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GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE: 



COMPILED FOR THE 



AMERICAN SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION. 



BY 



VJ 

J. W. & J. A. ALEXANDER. 






REVISED BY THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN 

SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION. 



AMERICAN SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION. 

PHILADELPHIA: 

NO. 146 CHESNUT STREET. 

1830. 



is 
■Ac. 



6*30 



Eastern District of Pennsylvania, to wit : 

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the twenty-first day of April, in the fifty. 
fourth year of the Independence of the United States of America, A. D. 1830, 
PAUL BECK, Jun. Treasurer in trust for the American Sunday School Union, of 
the said District, has deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof 
he claims as proprietor, in the words following, to wit : — 

*' A Geography of the Bible: compiled for the American Sunday School Union. 
By J. W. and J. A. Alexander. — Revised by the Committee of Publication of the 
American S. S. Union." 

In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, " An 
Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts, 
and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies, during the times therein 
mentioned" — and also to the Act, entitled, " An Act supplementary to an Act en- 
titled, "An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of 
Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies during 
the times therein mentioned," and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of 
designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints." 

D. CALDWELL, 

Clerk of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 



Stereotyped by L. Johnson... .Philadelphia, 






J&***" ¥ 



PREFACE, 



In presenting to the students of the Bible a work, which, 
from the very nature of the subject, can lay no claim to 
originality, it is but just that the sources should be men- 
tioned from which information has been drawn. The Sa- 
cred Geography of Wells, as published in the supplemen- 
tary volume to Calmet's Dictionary, has been consulted, as 
well as more recent works upon this branch of sacred an- 
tiquities. The Scripture Gazetteer of Mansford, published 
in England during the present year, reached this country 
about the time when our labours were drawing to a close. 
On many important points, however, we have obtained 
new light from that valuable compend. The discoveries 
©f recent travellers, the opinions of judicious commentators, 
and the various systems of modern geography, have not 
been neglected ; while we have placed most reliance upon 
a sedulous examination of the Holy Scriptures themselves. 

We have had constantly before us the elaborate work of 
Bosenmueller, in the geographical part of which, this sub- 
ject is treated in detail— and owe so much to his labours, 
both as to matter and arrangement, that to withhold this 
distinct notice of our obligation, would amount to the de- 
nial of a debt.* 

The work now offered to the public, is intended to be a 
manual for teachers in Sunday schools. It is believed that 
the only method by which correct ideas upon the geogra- 
phy of the Bible can be communicated to the pupils, is by 
leading the instructors to an intimate acquaintance with the 
subject. With this conviction, we have been unwilling to 

* Handbuch der Biblischen Alterthumskunde y von Ernst Friedr. Karl 
EosenmiUler. — Leipzig, 8vo. (1823—1829.) In parts. 



IV PREFACE. 

limit ourselves to such a sketch as might be suitable merely 
for children ; while this compilation may be read with pro- 
fit by any pupil in a Sunday school, who is in any proper 
measure familiar with common geography. 

The character and intention of the following pages will 
be misunderstood, if it is not borne in mind that they con- 
stitute a book of reference, rather than a work for immedi- 
ate and continuous perusal. And while we indulge the 
hope that those who are solicitous to understand the vari- 
ous geographical allusions of the Bible, will find important 
assistance in those outlines, we are bound to acknowledge 
that many names of places which occur in the sacred writ- 
ings are not even mentioned ; for the simple reason, that 
after some research, we have been unable to arrive at any 
thing more concerning them than bare conjecture. 

The interest of the reader in the description of countries, 
might have been greatly increased by a more enlarged view 
of sacred history. We were admonished by the unexpected 
size of the volume to deny ourselves the satisfaction of 
making these additions. 

It is highly important that every text of Scripture to 
which reference is made, should be carefully examined. 
Without attention to this, the great design of this book, as 
an aid in the study of the Bible, will be frustrated. 

James W. Alexander, 
J. Addison Alexander. 

Princeton, April 19, 1829. 



CONTENTS, 



JJ I) JJ 

JJ JJ JJ 



Eden, - Page 7 

Divisions of the Earth among the Sons of Noah. 10 
The Descendants of Japheth, - •• - - 11 

Ham, .... 12 

Shem, ... 13 

Countries of Japheth's Descendants, - - 14 

Armenia, -------- 15 

Media, 17 

Elam, -------- 18 

Persia, --------19 

Babylonia and Chaldea, - - • - 20 

Cities, fyc. of Babylonia, - - - - - 21 

Assyria, --------24 

Remarkable places in Assyria, - - - - 25 

Mesopotamia, -------27 

Asia Minor, 29 

Divisions of Asia Minor, 30 

Aram, or Syria, - - - - - , - -37 

Mount Lebanon, ------ 38 

Rivers of Syria, ------ 39 

Divisions of Syria, - - - - - \b* 

Cities, fyc. -------41 

Climate, Soil, and Language, 45 

Arabia, --------46 

Arabia Deserta, ------ 47 

Arabia Petrcea, - - - - - - -51 

Arabia Felix -------58 

Egypt, --------61 

Lower Egypt, ------ 64 

Middle Egypt, - - 66 

Upper Egypt $ -••--- % 0fl 

a 2 5 



vi contents. 

Ethiopia Proper, 68 

North Africa, - - - - - - 69 

Countries denominated in the Bible, The West, 71 
Islands of the Egean Sea, ib. 

Greece, 73 

Italy, --------76 

Spain, - 77 

India, 78 

Palestine, ib. 

Boundaries and extent, 79. Face of the country, 80. 
Mountains, 81. Caves, 87. Plains and Valleys, ib. 
Deserts and Forests, 92. Lakes, 94. Rivers and Brooks, 
97. Springs, Wells, and Cisterns, 100. Fertility, 102. 
Original inhabitants, 102. Division of the land among 
the twelve tribes, 108. Division of the land under the 
Kings of Judah and Israel, 117. Divisions of Palestine 
under the Romans, 118. Peraea, 119. Galilee, 124. 
Samaria, 132. Judea, 139. 

Land of the Philistines, - - - - 162 
Phenicia, 165 



GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 






EDEN. 



The Geography of the Bible may be said to begin with 
the origin of the human race. No sooner do we read of 
the creation of man, than we find the place mentioned in 
which his abode was fixed. It was no doubt intended, 
that we should be informed where this happy land was 
situated ; for a number of circumstances are particularly 
stated, as if to direct our minds to the very spot where our 
first parents had their probation. The first question, there- 
fore, which demands an answer, relates to the garden of 
Eden. 

It must be acknowledged, in the outset, that our know- 
ledge of the countries which occur in the antediluvian 
history is very small ; while at the same time we may be 
assured that nothing has been withheld in the inspired re- 
cords, which is necessary or important to be known. If 
entire satisfaction cannot be attained upon these subjects, it 
is because no great practical advantage could result from 
more minute descriptions. Many pious and learned men 
have diligently examined all the existing sources of in- 
formation, yet the opinions of commentators and geogra- 
phers are still various, and often contradictory. 

The residence of our first parents, in their state of inno- 
cence and bliss, was called Eden or Delight. In seeking 
the spot where this garden was planted, we must first de- 
termine upon those marks which are certainly given in 
the word of God. 

1. We are informed (Gen. ii. 8.) that Eden was eastward; 
that is, as we suppose, eastward from the country of the 
Israelites, or the land in which Moses wrote. This term is 
of course very general in its signification, and may apply 
to any of the countries upon the river Euphrates, for they 
all lie to the east of Palestine. 

7 



© GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

2. We have the name of a river, Euphrates, which 
flowed out of Eden, and which has retained almost the 
original name, until the present day. Upon this river, 
then, in some part of its extensive course, we may, with 
certainty, place the garden of Eden. 

3* We have a second river mentioned, namely, the Hid- 
dekel, which almost all historians acknowledge to be the 
Tigris. The eastern names of the Tigris are mere abbre- 
viations of the ancient word, as Degil, Diklath, Diklat, and 
Degola. Besides this, the prophet Daniel tells that he had 
the vision " of the latter days," in Babylonia, by the side 
of " the great river, which is Hiddekel." The only great 
river of which he could speak, is the Euphrates, or Tigris, 
and we are certain that it was not the former. We have 
thus arrived at the conclusion, that the eastern region in 
which Eden was situated lay in some country where the 
Tigris and the Euphrates approach one another, as we 
would not give the dimensions of some hundreds of miles 
to the Paradise, in which Adam was placed •■ to dress it 
and to keep it." (Gen. ii. 15.) 

4. We find Eden mentioned in other parts of Scripture ; 
and from the countries with which it is named, we may 
form some idea of its situation. In 2 Kings xix. 12, we 
read of Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children 
of Eden which were in Thelasar. Gozan was in Media, 
Haran and Rezeph in Mesopotamia. Again, in Ezekiel 
xxvii. 23, we read of Haran, and Canneh, and Eden, and 
the merchants of Sheba, Assur, and Chilmad. Canneh 
was upon the Tigris, in ancient Parthia, (See page 23.) 
and Asshur or Assyria lay along the upper part of the same 
river. Hence the land of Eden could not be, as some 
strangely suppose, in Babylonia, but further north in Me- 
dia, Armenia, or Mesopotamia. 

It remains then to be determined, in what part of these 
rivers we are to place the garden of Eden ; whether at their 
source, in their middle course, or near their junction. The 
remarks of a late ingenious writer are just and appropriate. 
" We have seen that the country of Eden was somewhere 
in Media, Armenia, or the northern part of Mesopotamia : 
all mountainous countries ; and affording, instead of the sick- 
ening plains of Babylonia, some of the grandest, as well as 
the richest scenery in the world. A river or stream rising 
in some part of this country, entered the garden ; where it 



EDEN. y 

was parted into four others ; in all probability, by first fall- 
ing into a basin or lake, from which the other streams is- 
sued at different points, taking different directions, and 
growing into mighty rivers ; although at their sources in 
the garden they would be like all other rivers, mere brooks, 
passed by a stepping-stone, or a plank, and forming no 
barrier to a free communication between the parts of the 
garden."* 

The Euphrates has its source in the central mountains 
of Armenia, near the lake Van or Arsissa. It is formed by 
two streams, which first flow west ; after their junction 
near Hebban in Mount Taurus, the river bends to the 
S. W. and joining a smaller stream, pursues a course as if to 
reach the Mediterranean ; but being turned by the moun- 
tains of Caucasus, changes its direction to S. E ; joins 
the Tigris at Korna, forming the Shatel-Arab, which falls 
into the Persian Gulf by several mouths. Near the foun- 
tains of the Euphrates, we find those of the Hiddekel. 

The Tigris rises near the head of the Euphrates ;t that 
is it which goeth eastward to Assyria; (see the margin, 
Gen. ii. 14 ;) or, as many critics translate it, before Assyria. 
This great river divided Assyria from Mesopotamia, and 
is, as has been said, the Hiddekel of the Scriptures. 

The Pison (Gen. ii. 11,) is not so easily discovered, but 
is generally supposed to be the Phasis or Absarus of the an- 
cients. The Havilah which is compassed by this river is 
different from the country of this name, which is in Ara- 
bia, and which will be mentioned hereafter. It may rea- 
dily be taken for Colchis^ between the Black Sea and the 
Caspian. The river Phasis flows through Mingrelia, and 
falls into the Black Sea. The country through which it 
passes was celebrated among the ancients for its gold. 

The CHhon (Gen. ii. 13.) is said to compass the whole 
land of Ethiopia. The Hebrew word, which we trans- 
late Ethiopia, is Cush, a term used to denote various re- 
gions, both in Asia and Africa. Now as no one will con- 
tend that the river Gihon encircled either Ethiopia Proper, 
or the part of Arabia so called, we have to seek for some 
other land to which the word Cush may be applied. It 
is thought by many that the first settlement of Cush, the 

* Scripture Gazetteer, by J. Griffith Mansford. Lond, 1829. p. 133, 
t See Darby's Geographical Dictionary, 



GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE* 

son of Ham, was made in Susiana : (see Elam.) Upon this 
supposition we may take the Gihon to be the river Kerah, 
which the Greeks called Gyndes, apparently a corruption 
of the Hebrew name. This river " encompases" the east- 
ern border of Susiana. The opinion, however, most com- 
monly received is, that this is the river Oxus, which is 
even now called by the Arabs Jihon, and which falls into 
the Sea of Arabia. 

Unsatisfactory as all our investigations must be concern- 
ing a country which was perhaps desolated by the universal 
deluge, we may still, it is thought, be safe in placing the 
garden of Eden in or near Armenia. " Mr. Faber sup- 
poses/' says the author already named, " that the Lake 
Arsissa covers the site of Eden ; and that the change which 
carried the heads of the rivers to a greater distance from 
it, was occasioned by the Deluge. But it is far more pro- 
bable that this change, considering that the courses of all 
the streams remain unaltered by that event, might have 
taken place at man's expulsion from the garden ; when 
God may have chosen to obliterate this fair portion of his 
works, unfitted for any thing but the residence of inno- 
cence ; and to blot at once from the face of the earth, like 
the guilty cities of the plain, both the site and the memo- 
rial of man's transgression — an awful event ; which would 
add tenfold horrors to the punishment." 

The Land of Nod, to which Cain went, after the murder 
of Abel, (Gen. iv.16.) was on the east of Eden. Nothing 
further is known concerning its situation. As little has 
been discovered as to the site of the city of Enoch. (Gen. 
iv. 17.) 

DIVISION OF THE EARTH 

AMONG THE SONS OF NOAH. 

The tenth chapter of the book of Genesis contains an 
account of the descendants of Noah, which, brief as it is, 
affords the only clue to the perplexed history of nations. 
Although the inattentive reader might pass slightly over 
this, as an uninteresting catalogue of names, yet it will be 



DIVISION OF THE EARTH. 11 

found, as we proceed, that constant appeals must be made 
to this inspired document. It should be remembered in all 
these inquiries, that the names of countries were, in early 
times, scarcely any thing else than the names of their first 
inhabitants. Almost every one of these persons gave name 
to some tribe or people ; and in some cases, the nation may 
be discovered, when we find no record of the founder, ex- 
cept in this genealogical table. 

In seeking to fix the abode of these people, after the 
lapse of thousands of years, we labour under great difficul- 
ties, and little more can, in many cases, be expected, than 
probable conjectures. 

The three sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, 
may be considered as the representatives of Asia, Africa, 
and Europe. Not that they were severally confined to 
these parts of the earth, but that this distinction may for 
the most part be discerned, as will appear from the follow- 
ing Table, which contains the results at which learned men 
have arrived. This, in order to be understood, must be 
compared with the tenth chapter of Genesis. 

The Descendants of Japheth. 

I. Gomer ; whence the Cimmerians, on the northern 
coast of the Black Sea. — From him descended, 

1. Ashkenas ; whose settlement is unknown, but conjec- 
tured to be between Armenia and the Black Sea. 

2. Riphath; the inhabitants of the Riphean range of 
mountains. 

3. Togarmah; the Armenians. 

II. Magog ; from whom the inhabitants of Caucasus, 
and the neighbouring countries : Scythians. 

HI. Madai; the Medes. 

IV. Javan ; the Ionians, Greeks. — From him, 

1. Elisha ; the Greeks, in a limited sense. 

2. Tarshish ; Tartesus in Spain. 

3. Kittim ; the Cyprians and other Islanders, and the 
Macedonians. 

4. Dodanim ; the Dodonians in Epirus. 

V. Tubal; the Tibarenes of Pontus. 



12 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

VI. Meshech ; the Moschi of the Moschian mountains, 
between Iberia, Armenia, and Pontus. 

VII. Tiras ; the Thracians, or people upon the Dniester. 

The Descendants of Ham. 

I. Cush; the Ethiopians and South Arabians. — From 
Cush descended, 

1. Nimrod; the first king of Shinar, or Babylonia and 
Mesopotamia, where he built the cities of Erech, &c. (See 
Babylonia.) 

2. Seba ; Meroe. (See Ethiopia.) 

3. Havilah ; the Hauloteans of South Arabia. 

4. Sabtah ; Sabota in South Arabia. 

5. Raamah; Rhegma in South-eastern Arabia. — From 
Raamah come, 

(1.) Shebah; probably in South Arabia. 

r 2.) Dedan ; Daden, an island in the Persian Gulf. 

k Sabtecha ; on the east coast of Ethiopia. 



i 



II. Mizraim; the Egyptians. — From Mizraim come, 

Q " A im .' > probably African nations. 

2. Ananim, J 

3. Lehabim or Lubim; the Lybians. 

4. Naphtuhim; between Egypt and Asia. 

5. Pathrusim ; in Pathrures, a part of Egypt. 

6 Casluhim ; the Colchians. — " Out of whom came," 
(1.) Philistim; the Philistines. 
(2.) Caphtorim ; the Cretans. 

III. Phut ; the Mauritanians, or Moors. 

IV. Canaan ; the original inhabitants of Palestine. — 
From Canaan descended, 

1. The Sidonians, or Phenicians. 

2. The Hethites, about Hebron. 

3. The Jebusites, in and around Jerusalem. 

4. The Amorites, east and west of the Dead Sea. 

5. The Girgasites. 

6. The Hivites, at the foot of Hermon. 

7. The Arkites, at the foot of Lebanon. 

8. The Sinites, in the region of Lebanon. 



DIVISION OF THE EARTH. 13 

9. The Arvadites, on the Phenician island Arabus, and 
the opposite coast. 

10. The Zemarites, of the Phenician city Simyra. 

11. The Hamathites, of Epiphania, on the Orontes. 

The Descendants of Shem. 

I. Elam ; from whom came the inhabitants of Elymais 
in Persia. 

II. Asshur ; the Assyrians. 

III. Arphaxad ; in the northern part of Syria, (Arra- 
pachites.) — From him came, 

Salah ; whose descendant was, 

Eber ; forefather of the Hebrews, and from him came, 

1. Peleg ; and 

2. Joktan ; ancestor of the following Arab families : 
(1.) Almodad. 

(2.) Sheleph ; Selapenes in South Arabia, 
(3.) Hazarmaveth; ofHadramaut. 
(4.) Jerah ; near the last. 
(5.) Hadoram. 

(6.) Uzal ; Sanaa in South Arabia. 
(7.) Diklah. 
(8.) ObaL 
(9.) Abbnael. 

(10.) Sheba; the Sabeans, in South Arabia. 
(11.) Ophir ; probably in Oman, of Arabia. 
(12.) Havilah ; of Haulan. 

(13.) Jobab; the Jobabites, between Hadramaut and 
Oman. 

IV. Lud ; probably origin of some Ethiopian people. 

V. Aram; Syrians and Mesopotamians. From Aram sprang, 

1. Uz ; north of Arabia Deserta. 

2. Hul ; perhaps in Coelo-Syria, 

3. Gether. 

4. Mash: the inhabitants of Mount Masius, north of 
Nesibis. 

This table will become more intelligible, when we shall 
have examined the several countries, one by one. 
B 



14 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 



Countries of Japheth's Descendants* 

The regions inhabited by the descendants of Japheth, 
are sometimes simply called the North. (Dan. xi. 6, 7, 8.) 
Japheth signifies enlargement ; and Providence did in a 
wonderful manner enlarge the boundaries of Japheth. (Gen. 
ix. 27.) It will be necessary more minutely to examine 
some of the nations mentioned in the preceding table. 

I. Riphath. (Gen. x. 3.) This name is so much like that 
of the Riphean or Rhipean mountains spoken of by the Ro- 
mans, and which they imagined to be at the extreme north, 
that it is natural to suppose that the descendants of Riphath 
were spread over the northern coasts of the Black Sea. 

II. Gomer. The Cimmerians probably took their name 
from Gomer. They resided north of the Black Sea, in the 
country now called Krim, and upon the rivers Don and 
Danube. From the same origin came the nations who 
were known under the various names of Cimbri, Umbri, 
and Cambri, in the northern and central parts of Europe. 
Hence arose the Gauls, Celts, and Gaels. They are men- 
tioned among the northern nations, which should accom- 
pany Gog in his conquests ; (Ezek. xxxviii. 6.) Gomer and 
all his bands. 

III. Ashkenaz. Except in the list of the families of na- 
tions, (Gen. x.) we find Ashkenaz only once named in the 
Bible, (Jer. li. 27.) and then in connexion with Ararat and 
Minni, provinces of Armenia. The utmost which we are 
able to say of this nation is, that it was near mount Cauca- 
sus, east and south-east of the Black Sea. 

IV. Gog and Magog. Gog is generally supposed to be 
the name of the people, and Magog the name of the coun- 
try, which comprehended the northern parts of Armenia, 
the space between the Black Sea and the Caspian, and the 
borders of Scythia. (Gen. x. 2, Ezek. xxxviii. 2.) We 
shall not attempt to answer the question concerning the 
Gog and Magog of the Revelation, (xx. 7 — 9,) which be- 
longs to the interpretation of prophecy. 

IV. Meshech and Tubal, are named in connexion with 



DIVISION OF THE EARTH. 15 

Magog, (Ezek. xxxviii. 2,) and are almost always united in 
the scriptural notices of them. (Ezek. xxvii. 13, xxxii. 26, 
xxxix. 1.) In like manner the Greek writers place the Mos- 
chi and Tibareni in conjunction : these are probably the same 
people. They inhabited the regions south of the chain of 
Caucasus, from the S. E. part of the Black Sea to the river 
Aras, or Araxes. They traded with Tyre in persons of men, 
and vessels of brass : (Ezek. xxvii. 13;) the Circassians, who 
inhabit this part of the world, have been noted, for ages, as 
slave- dealers ; while travellers inform us that copper is 
abundant in mount Caucasus. When the Psalmist speaks 
(Ps. cxx. 5,) of Mesech and Kedar, he may be understood 
to signify northern and southern barbarians. 

VI. Togarmah, Ararat, and Minni. These names are 
here set in conjunction, because they denote a single country, 
Armenia, — Togarmah is mentioned with Gomer, (Gen. x. 
3, Ezek. xxxviii. 5,) and also with Meshech and Tubal, 
(Ezek. xxvii. 14.,) The history and traditions of the Ar- 
menians represent them as the descendants of Togarmah, 
At the same time it should be mentioned that Bochart and 
Wells suppose Togarmah to be Cappadocia. 

We read not only of mount Ararat ; but of the kingdom of 
Ararat ; (Jer. li. 27. Isa. xxxvii. 38, margin ; 2 Kings xix. 
37, margin;) this was in the north-eastern part of Armenia. 

Minni, (Jer. li. 27,) seems to be the ancient Minyas, 
near to mount Ararat, and either a part of Armenia, or an 
adjacent district. Under this head it will be proper to 
consider 

ARMENIA. 

The boundaries of Armenia may be thus stated : Colchis 
and Iberia on the north ; Media on the east ; Mesopotamia on 
the south ; Pontus and Cappadocia on the west; and the Eu- 
phrates and Syria on the S. west. From the earliest times, 
this country has been divided into two parts, Greater and 
Less Armenia. The latter is now a part of Natolia, lying 
upon the western side of the Euphrates. It includes por- 
tions of Cappadocia, Cilicia, and Pontus, — or the modern 
Caramania, Merash, and Siva, and is under Turkish go- 
vernment. Greater Armenia is on the east of the Euphrates, 
separated by mount Taurus from Mesopotamia and Kurdis- 



IB GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

tan, (or ancient Assyria,) and contains fifteen provinces, 
nine of which belong to Persia. Armenia has been con- 
sidered by travellers one of the most beautiful and fertile 
countries of the earth. 

Ararat was that part of Persian Armenia in which is 
found the modern Erivan. (Lon. 44° 10' E. iat. 40° 20' N.) 
Mount Ararat, upon which the ark rested, is unanimously 
agreed to be Mount Masis, called by the Turks Agridah, 
in the north-east part of Armenia. It has two peaks called 
the Greater and Lesser Ararat. The discoveries of modern 
travellers have placed it beyond a doubt that this is the 
true Mount Ararat. Since the days of Noah, it is probable 
that no human being has reached its summit : " the impos- 
sibility of reaching its extreme summit, " says Mr. Morier, 
" was decided some years ago, by the Pasha of Beyazid. 
He offered large rewards to any one who should reach the 
top ; but although many Curds, who live at its base, have 
attempted it, all have been equally unsuccessful." These 
heights, the snow and ice of which are sometimes visible 
nearly 200 miles off, are at least 15,000 feet in altitude.* 

The early history of Armenia is involved in obscurity. 
If the profane historians are to be believed, the first kings 
of Armenia, whose names are scarcely known, were dis- 
placed by Ninus, king of Assyria. We can arrive at little 
that is credible, until the time of Astyages, king of Media, 
who subdued the country and made its kings tributary. 
When Media, in its turn was conquered by Cyrus, Armenia 
became a province of the Persian Empire ; and again under 
another conqueror, Alexander the Great, was annexed to 
the Macedonian dominions. Antiochus the Great, of Syria, 
was afterwards their sovereign, but lost the greater part of 
Armenia by a rebellion. Artaxias then reigned as an inde- 
pendent king of Greater Armenia. The Romans and Par- 
thians long contended for the throne, until finally it be- 
came, under Trajan, a Roman province. 

VII. Scythians. The Apostle Paul speaks (Col. iii. 11,) 
of " Barbarians and Scythians." This name was used in an- 
cient times to denote, not only a particular people, but all 
those wandering tribes whose residence was north and east 
of the Black and Caspian Seas. The Apostle seems to speak 

* Hansford. 



DIVISION OF THE EARTH. 17 

of the Scythians, meaning barbarous nations in general. 
Beth-shean, (Josh. xvii. 11, 16,) is supposed to have been 
called Scythopolis, or City of the Scythians, from some oc- 
currence during the invasion of Palestine by these tribes, 
probably 631 years before Christ. 

MEDIA. 

Media was called by the Hebrews Madai, (Gen. x. 2,) 
and lay south and west of the Caspian sea, south of Arme- 
nia, and north of Persia, including the provinces now called 
Azerbijan, Ghilan, Mazanderan, and Irak-Adjemi. This 
country, which is rather greater in extent than Spain, lies 
between 35° and 40° N. lat. and was among the richest and 
most fruitful kingdoms of Asia. It is divided into two parts ; 
Atropatene or Lesser Media on the N. west ; and Greater 
Media on the south. Atropatene is now called Azerbijan. 
The wealth of this land is now almost at an end, and its 
fields and towns have become deserted under a despotic 
government. Greater Media (now Irak-Adjemi) is a moun- 
tainous country, with many fertile valleys. Its climate is 
temperate and its atmosphere healthful. The skies of Per- 
sian Irak, like those of Italy, are proverbially beautiful. 
Those regions, however, which are near the Caspian sea, 
are unhealthy, though abundant in fruits and grain. 

Achmetha or Ecbatana, the chief city of Media, is men- 
tioned in the book of Ezra, (vi. 2,) as the place where the 
records of the kingdom were preserved. In the Apocry- 
pha, (Jud. i. 2 — 10,) maybe found some description of this 
city, which was splendid and well fortified. Its place is 
occupied, as is supposed, by the modern city of Hamadan, 
(lat. 34° 54' N. long. 46° E.) 

Media was subject to the Assyrian Empire until the time 
of Tiglath-Pileser, (Arbaces) who usurped the government 
of both countries. This monarch carried many of the 
Israelites east of Jordan to Media. (2 Kings xv. 29, 1 
Chron. v. 26.) A revolt in the time of Sennacherib, the 
grandson of Tiglath-Pileser, separated Media from Assyria : 
Dejoces was then their king. After many conflicts with 
the Assyrians, he left the kingdom to Phraortes, who added 
Persia to his realm. (See p. 19.) 

Cyaxares, the son of Phraortes, took and destroyed 
Nineveh, and his son Astyages was his successor* Cyax- 

b2 



18 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

ares the second, the uncle of Cyrus the Great, gave up the 
kingdom to his more celebrated nephew, under whom Per- 
sia and Media became one kingdom. 

The Medes were employed, in the hand of God, as the 
instruments for executing his decrees against Babylon : Be- 
hold, I will stir up the Medes against them. (Isa. xiii. 17, 
18, xxi. 2, 3. ) Their punishment was also foretold by Jere- 
remiah, (xxv. 25,) who says that they were to drink of 
the cup of the wrath of God : which was fulfilled under 
Cyrus. Darius succeeded to the kingdom of Belshazzar, 
king of Chaldea, and was himself succeeded by Cyrus. 
After this the Medes and Persians are mentioned as belong- 
ing to one empire. 

ELAM. 

The nation which descended from Elam, the son of 
Shem, (Gen. x. 22,) is named in conjunction with the 
king of Shinar, (Gen. xiy. 1,) and in other places, (Isa. 
xxi. 2, Jer. xxv. 25,) with Media. The Elamites appear 
(Ezr. iv. 9,) among the people of the Persian empire, and 
Daniel is said to have resided at Shushan, which is in the 
province of Elam. (Dan. viii. 2.) The Greeks and Romans 
gave this country the name of Elymais. It made a part of 
the ancient Susiana, now called Kusistan. Susiana, oi 
Kusistan, the Elam of the Bible, is bounded by Persia or 
Farsistan on the east ; Babylonia on the west ; Media on the 
north ; and the Persian gulf on the south. In the northern 
and eastern parts it is mountainous, in the southern portion, 
upon the sea, low and marshy. The Elamites or Ely- 
mseans were a warlike people, celebrated for their use of the 
bow. (Isa. xxii. 6, Jer. xlix. 35.) 

Shushan, the capital of Elam, was situated upon the an- 
cient Choaspes, now called Kerrah. It was called Sasa by 
the Greeks, and is said to have been 15 miles in circum- 
ference. Here stood the celebrated palace of Ahasuerus, 
(Esth. i. 5,) and amongst its ruins, the inhabitants still pre- 
tend to show the tomb of the prophet Daniel. Ezekiel 
speaks of Elam as a great and terrible nation, (xxxii. 24,) 
which should be visited by the judgments of God. After 
being subdued by the Chaldeans, Shushan became the resi- 
dence of their kings. (Dan. viii. 1, 2.) Elamites are named 
(Acts ii, 9,) together with Medes and Parthians, as being 



PERSIA. 19 

present at the miraculous occurrences of the day of Pente- 
cost. The history of Elam as a separate country is not re- 
ferred to in the Scriptures, as in later ages it was a part of 
the Persian Empire. 

PERSIA. 

The country which we know under the name of Persia, 
was called by the Hebrews Paras, by the Greeks Persis, 
and by its inhabitants Fars. It is bounded by Kerman or 
Caramania on the east ; by Irak- Adjemi or Southern Me- 
dia on the north ; by Laristan and the Persian Gulf on the 
south ; and by Kusistan on the West. The country with- 
in these limits is about equal in extent to France. But 
while these are the boundaries of Persia Proper, it is to be 
observed that the Persian empire was far more extensive, 
including, at some periods, both Elam and Media. 

Within limits so large as those abovementioned, great 
varieties of soil and climate are to be expected. The 
southern part, which lies upon the sea, is a sandy plain, 
rendered almost uninhabitable by the heat and drought, 
and the prevalence of the pestilential wind. The interior 
and northern districts, on the contrary, contain high lands 
of great beauty and fertility, lofty mountains, and valleys 
covered with verdure. The vale of Shiraz is celebrated for 
its cattle, its fruits, and its wine, as well as for its healthful 
atmosphere. In the northern parts of Farsistan the moun- 
tains, which branch out from the range of Taurus, are high 
and rugged, and the valleys are inhabited principally by 
wandering shepherds and herdsmen. The geography of 
Persia Proper is scarcely alluded to in the Bible, though its 
history deserves to be carefully studied as illustrating that 
of the Hebrews. 

The early inhabitants of Persia appear to have main- 
tained an independent government for some centuries, until 
being subdued, they became subject to the Assyrian em- 
pire. From this state of dependence they were in a mea- 
sure delivered by Arbaces or Tiglath-Pileser, and for some 
time had at least the appearance of a separate Jdngdom. 
They were conquered and made a part of the Median king- 
dom by Phraortes. The celebrated Cyrus united Persia 



20 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE 

and Media as one kingdom, about 500 years before Christ 
It was he who took Babylon, restored the Jews, and order- 
ed the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple, and who 
was predicted by name, as the shepherd of the Lord, and 
the deliverer of Israel. (Isa. xliv. 28, xlv.) The successors 
of Cyrus, as given by Ezra, are Ahasuerus, Artaxerxes, 
Darius, and Artaxerxes. Ahasuerus was Cambyses, the 
conqueror of Egypt. Artaxerxes is the king elsewhere 
called Smerdis the Magian, by whose decree the rebuilding 
of Jerusalem was stopped. Darius has, in profane history, 
the additional name of Hystaspes. Under his patronage 
the temple was finished. Xerxes, who is omitted by Ezra, 
as having no connexion with sacred history, but who is 
named by Daniel, was the celebrated invader of Greece. 
Artaxerxes Longimanus (so called from the length of his 
handsj is supposed to be the Ahasuerus of the book of 
Esther. With this prince ends the history of Persia as 
connected with the Scriptures. 

BABYLONIA AMD CHALDEA. 

It is easy to determine the general situation of this 
great country, which lay on both sides of the river Eu- 
phrates, while its particular boundaries are not so evident. 
The Persian Gulf was certainly its southern limit ; on other 
sides it is more difficult to draw the line. Perhaps we 
may place Mesopotamia and Assyria on the north ; Persia 
and Susiana on the east ; and the stony and desert Arabia 
on the west. This country is now called Babylonian or 
Arabian Irak. The south-western part of Babylonia, upon 
the borders of the Arabian desert is called the land of the 
Chaldeans , or Chaldea, by Jeremiah, (xxiv. 5, xxv. \% 
1. 8,) and Ezekiel, (xii. 13.) The two names Babylonia 
and Chaldea are generally applied to the same country. Its 
ancient name was Shinar. Nimrod built a city called Ba- 
bel, in the land of Shinar ; (Gen. x. 10.) The spoils of 
the temple, as we are told, (Dan. i. 1, 2,) were carried into 
this country. By the prophet Isaiah (xxi. 1,) it is named 
the desert of the sea, perhaps because the overflowing of 
the Euphrates resembled a sea. 

Babylonia is a level country, subjected to constant inun- 



BABYLONIA AND CHALDEA. 21 

dations from its two great rivers, especially from the Eu- 
phrates, which has the lower banks. In consequence of 
this it was intersected by numerous canals, some of which 
were remarkably large. These are minutely described by 
ancient writers. Hence it was said to dwell upon many 
waters. (Jer. li. 13.) 

The climate of this country is such as to be agreeable 
and healthful during most of the year, notwithstanding the 
prevalence of great heat. There is little rain, even in win- 
ter, and the atmosphere is peculiarly clear. The ancients 
speak of it as a land eminent for its fertility. It was rich 
in grain and in dates, but produced no vines, figs, or olives. 

CITIES AND REMARKABLE PLACES IN BABYLONIA. 

I. Babel, or Babylon, was the chief city of the king- 
dom, and is called by Jeremiah, (1. 12,) the mother, or me- 
tropolis, of Chaldea. It is also called Sheshach. It was, 
probably the first city built after the flood, by Nimrod, 
upon the same ground where the tower of Babel stood, and 
where the memorable confusion of tongues took place. 
(Gen. xi. 1 — 9.) All that relates to the early history of 
this city is so obscure, and the accounts of the heathen so 
contradictory, that an entire silence seems most judicious. 
Its situation was about 32° 25' north latitude, and 44° east 
longitude from Greenwich. 

Nebuchadnezzar raised this city to its greatest glory, so 
that it became the seat of universal empire, and the wonder 
of the world. " The city, at that period, stood on both 
sides the river, which intersected it in the middle. It was, 
according to the least computation, 45 miles in circum- 
ference ; and according to Herodotus, 60 miles. Its shape 
was that of a square, traversed each way by 25 principal 
streets; which of course intersected each other, dividing 
the city into 625 squares. The walls, from the most mo- 
derate accounts, were 75 feet in height, and 32 in breadth ; 
while Herodotus makes them 300 in height and 75 in 
breadth." — u They were built of brick, cemented with 
bitumen instead of mortar, and were encompassed by a 
broad and deep ditch, lined with the same materials, as 
were also the banks of the river in its course through the 
city. The houses were three or four stories high, sepa- 
rated from each other by small courts or gardens, with open 



22 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

spaces, and even fields, interspersed over the immense area 
enclosed within the walls. Over the river was a bridge, 
connecting the two halves of the city, which stood, the one 
on its eastern and the other on its western bank. The 
bridge was five furlongs in length and 30 feet in breadth, 
and had a palace at each end, with, (as is said,) a sub- 
terraneous passage from one to the other. Within the 
city was the temple of Belus, or Jupiter, which is described 
as a square of a quarter of a mile." [Abridged from Mans- 
ford's Bib. Gaz.] The reader may find in various histories, 
particular descriptions of this tower, and also of the palaces, 
and the hanging gardens. 

With justice might such a place be called great, (Jer. li. 
58,) " the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees 7 
excellency," (Isa. xiii. 19,) and a proud and luxurious city, 
(Isa. xlvii. 1 — 8.) In the Revelation of John it is used as 
a type of the Roman power. (Rev. xiv. 8, xvi. 19, xvii. 
5, xviii. 10.) 

The first notice of a king of Babylon in the Scriptures, 
is during the reign of Hezekiah, when Berodach-baladan 
sent letters and presents to congratulate the king of Judah 
upon his recovery. (2 Kings xx. 12.) This Baladan was 
the first independent king of Babylon, after their deliver- 
ance from Assyrian power, and is elsewhere called Nabo- 
nassar and Belesis. About 747 years before Christ, this 
prince, with Arbaces of Media, (Tiglath-Pileser,) besieged 
Nineveh, and obtaining the victory, divided the former 
Assyrian monarchy into the two kingdoms of Nineveh and 
Babylon. After several reigns Babylon became again sub- 
ject to those kings of Assyria who are so often named in 
the history of the Jews; viz.. Tiglath-Pileser, Sennache- 
rib, and Esarhaddon. Under Nabopolassar, Babylon be- 
came independent of Assyria, and the seat of universal 
empire. This king was the father of Nebuchadnezzar, 
who extended his conquests as far as Palestine, took Jeru- 
salem, and made Judea tributary. His son Evil-Merodach 
(2 Kings xxv. 7, Jer. Hi. 31,) was murdered by his bro- 
ther-in-law Neriglissar, who then ascended the throne. 
Then follow Laborosoarchod, and Nabonadius or Belshaz- 
zar. (Dan. v. 1.) According to the prophecies, Babylon 
was, in a remarkable manner, destroyed by Cyrus. (Jer. 
xxv. 11, 12, Isa. xlv. 1 — 4, Jer. li. 11, Isa. xiii. 17, xxi. 
2, Jer. 1, 38, li. 36, 1. 24, li. 39, 57.) In these predictions 



BABYLONIA AND CHALDEA. 23 

almost every circumstance of the siege and capture is dis- 
tinctly foretold. 

The glory of Babylon passed away according to the 
word of the Lord, so that it has been difficult, in modern 
times, to discover the place where it stood. Within a few 
years, however, it seems to be made certain that the spot 
is in the vicinity of the town of Hilleh, in the Pachalic of 
Bagdad. Here remains a prodigious monument, conjec- 
tured to have belonged to the great tower. Innumerable 
quantities of bricks have been dug up, many of which con- 
tain inscriptions ; also lines of brick-work, and old founda- 
tions. These caverns and ruins are infested by wild beasts, 
so as to be often inaccessible. 

II. Dura, an extensive plain around Babylon, where 
Nebuchadnezzar erected the golden image. (Dan. iii. 1.) 

III. Erech, was a city built by Nimrod. (Gen. x. 10.) 
This was called Erecca and Aracca by the Greeks, and is 
supposed to be the place upon the river Tigris, near the 
borders of Susiana, whence the Archevites were brought 
by Esarhaddon to colonize Samaria. (Ezra iv. 9.) 

IV. Acad, or Achad, another city of Shinar, built by 
Nimrod. (Gen. x. 10.) It is also called Archad. Scarcely 
any thing is known of its position. About six miles from 
Bagdad a ruin is found, at a place called Akar-kouff, which 
(it is imagined) marks the spot where Achad was built. 

V. Calneh, is the fourth of Nimrod's cities. Probably 
the same with Calno, (Isa. x. 9.) and Canneh, (Ezek. 
xxvii. 23.) It stood upon the Tigris, and was known by 
the Greeks under the name of Ctesiphon. It was long the 
chief city of the Parthians. It seems to have been a place 
of note, (x\mos vi. 2, Isa. x. 9,) and is mentioned by Eze- 
kiel as a town which traded with Tyre, (xxvii. 23.) 

VI. Cutha, a region about the lower Euphrates. (2 
Kings xvii. 24.) 

Babylonia was a country well situated for commerce. Its 
great navigable rivers opened to it the trade of Syria and 
Asia Minor from above, and of India, Persia, Arabia, and 



24 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

Africa from below. Babylon was the centre to which all 
the treasures of merchandize were brought. It was a land 
of traffic, a city of merchants. (Ezek. xvii. 4.) The looms 
of Chaldea produced wares which were precious in the 
earliest times. We read of a goodly Babylonish garment, 
(Jos. vii. 21,) more than 1400 years before Christ. It was 
a country, also, where the sciences were cultivated, al- 
though perhaps in a manner rather superstitious than pro- 
found. They had their astrologers, star-gazers, and monthly 
prognosticators ; (Isa. xlvii. 13, Dan. i. 20, ii. 2, 10, 27, 
iv. 7, v. 7, 11.) 

The language of Chaldea was not unlike that of the 
Hebrews ; and some parts of the Old Testament are writ- 
ten in Chaldee. 

i 

ASSYRIA. 

Assyria derives its name from the Hebrew Asshnr, the 
second son of Shem. (Gen. x. 22.) As the Greeks called 
him Assur, the name of the country very naturally became 
Assyria. It has been doubted whether Nimrod or Asshur 
was the first settler of this country. In the verse above 
cited, the words may be rendered as in the margin, " Out 
of that land he (Nimrod) went into Assyria;" and the 
opinion is most probable that Nimrod was the founder. 

Assyria Proper is to be distinguished from the kingdom 
of Assyria, in the same way as China is distinguished from 
the Chinese Empire ; the latter term being used to denote 
in general those adjacent countries which were at various 
times subject to the kings of Assyria. 

Assyria was bounded on the north by Armenia, the Gor- 
dian mountains, and mount Niphates ; on the west by the 
Tigris and Mesopotamia ; on the south by Persia ; and on 
the east by Media. This country, with Kurdistan, is now 
subject to the Pacha of Mosul. It is a well watered and 
fruitful land, and once enjoyed extensive commerce. Grain, 
fruits, wine, cotton, and manna are produced in abundance. 
Hence the praises of the wicked Rab-shakeh, (2 Kings xvii. 
32, Isa. xxxvi. 17.) 

The Tigris is the principal river of Assyria, and was 
called Hiddekel by the Hebrews. The greater and the 



ASSYRIA. 25 

smaller Zab or Dsab, run into this river from the east in a 
direction almost parallel. 

Assyria was divided into six provinces, of which the 
most northern was Arrapachitis or Arphaxad. (Gen. x. 22, 
24.) South of this was Calachene, supposed to be the Ha- 
lah or Chalach mentioned 2 Kings xvii. 6, xviii. 11. Fur- 
ther south was Adiabene. North-east of the last lay Arbe- 
litis. South of these Apolloniaris ; and bordering on Susi- 
ana was Sittakene. 

REMARKABLE PLACES IN ASSYRIA. 

I. Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, (2 Kings xix. 36, 
Isa. xxxvii. 37, Jon. iii. 6, Nah. ii. 8.) The name means 
" the dwelling-place of Ninus." It was situated on the 
eastern bank of the Tigris, opposite to the place where 
Mosul now stands, and ruins are still pointed out as the re- 
mains of this ancient city. It was probably founded by 
Nimrod, who w T as also called Ninus. The ancient name 
may be recognized in Numia, a village which is there at 
present. Nineveh was little inferior in size to Babylon. 
The dimensions given in history are as follows : 19 miles 
in length, 11 in breadth, and 60 in circumference. From 
what is said in Jonah, (ch. iv. 11,) we might calculate the 
number of its inhabitants, at the least, at 600,000. It was 
" a city of three day's journey," (Jon. iii. 3,) or 60 miles 
in circuit. The walls are said to have been a hundred feet 
high, and wide enough for three chariots- to pass abreast, 
and fortified by 1500 towers, each 200 feet in height. Accord- 
ing to prophecy, it was destroyed by the aid of its great 
river, and in a sudden and terrible manner, (Nah. i. 10, 
ii. 6,) by the Medes and Babylonians. It was a wicked 
and luxurious city, and hence was destined to be smitten 
by the judgments of God, as he declared by his prophets, 
(Nah. iii. 1, Zeph. ii. 13—15.) 

II. Rehobolh ; a city built by the founder of Nineveh, 
(Gen. x. 11, 12,) as were also the two which follow. Of 
this place nothing is known. Let it be distinguished 
from the birth-place of Saul, king of Idumea. (Gen. 
xxxvi. 37.) 

III. Calahj (Gen, x. 12,) is supposed by Dr. Wells to be 

O 



GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

the same with Halah. The general opinion is, however, 
that it was upon the Zad, or Lycus. 

IV. Kir, to which the conquered Damascenes were 
exiled, (2 Kings xvi. 9, Amos i. 5,) did not strictly lie within 
Assyria, but was under Assyrian dominion. Hence the 
Syrians are said, (Amos ix. 7,) to have been brought. It 
was probably a region near the river Kur, or Kuros, which 
flows between the Black Sea and the Caspian, and falls into 
the latter, after uniting with the Araxes. This is about the 
site of the modern Georgia. 

V. Habor was a place on the river Gozan, where Shal- 
maneser placed a part of the captive Israelites, (2 Kings 
xvii. 6.) It is thought to be the mountainous tract be- 
tween Assyria and Media. The river Gozan is that which 
is now called Kisil-Osan. 

It is not known whether there was an uninterrupted 
line of kings from Asshur or Nimrod to Sardanapalus. The 
first monarch mentioned in the Bible is Pul, who, about 
770 years before Christ, made Menahem, king of Israel, 
tributary to the Assyrians. (2 Kings xv. 19.) Sardanapalus 
is supposed to have been the son of Pul. He was besieged, 
as has already been said, by Arbaces and Belesis, and in 
despair set fire to his palace, and was consumed ; before 
Christ 747. Arbaces, or Tiglath-Pileser, then fixed his 
seat of government at Nineveh, and proceeded to invade 
Palestine, and carried the inhabitants of the north of that 
country to Assyria. (2 Kings xv. 29.) Salmanaser, or Sal- 
mon, the successor of Tiglath-Pileser, took Samaria, cast 
Hoshea into prison for life, and transplanted the remnant 
of Israel to Halah, Habor, and other Assyrian and Median 
cities. (2 Kings xvii. 1.) Thus ended the kingdom of 
Israel, which had continued 254 years. 

Sennacherib, the monarch who succeeded, attempted the 
subjugation of the kingdom of Judah, but was disappointed 
by the miraculous destruction of his vast army in a single 
night. (2 Kings xviii. 13—37, Isa. xxxvi. xxxvii.) After 
a reign of eighteen years, Sennacherib was assassinated by 
two of his sons ; the third son, Esarhaddon, hitherto vice- 
roy of Babylon, succeeded to the throne. (2 Kings xix. 37, 
Isa. xxxvii. 38.) Of this king we read scarcely any thing, 



MESOPOTAMIA. 27 

except that he sent colonists to Samaria. (Ezra iv. 2.) He 
reigned over both Assyria and Babylonia, and is by some 
supposed to be the king of Assyria who took Manasseh pri- 
soner, and subdued Judea. About 120 years after Esar- 
haddon, Cyaxares, king of Media, and Nabopolassar, the 
viceroy of Babylon, united their forces against Assyria, 
destroyed Nineveh, and divided the kingdom ; so that As- 
syria itself became a Median province. 

MESOPOTAMIA. 

The extensive country which lies between the Euphrates 
and the Tigris, from their sources to Babylon, between the 
33d and 38th degrees of N. latitude, is called Mesopotamia* 
The name signifies, in Greek, between the rivers. In He- 
brew it is called Aram-Naharaim, i. e. Aram or Syria of two 
rivers, and Padan-Aram, the plain of Syria. The modern 
Arabic name is Algesira or El-jesira, the island, or peninsula. 

On the west lie Armenia, Asia Minor, and Syria ; on the 
south the Arabian desert and Babylonia, (or Arabian Irak ;) 
on the east Kurdistan ; and on the north Greater Armenia. 

In addition to the Euphrates and Tigris, which have 
been already mentioned, there is no account given in the 
Bible of any other river of Mesopotamia except the Chabo- 
ras, or Chebar, on the banks of which a Jewish colony 
w r as planted by Nebuchadnezzar, (Ezek. i. 1, 3, iii. 15, 23, 
x. 15, 22, 2 Kings xxiv. 15,) and where likewise the pro- 
phet Ezekiel sojourned. This was a large and navigable 
river, different from the Chabor. It fell into the Euphrates : 
now El-Khabur. 

Towards the north Mesopotamia is separated from Ar- 
menia by the southern branch of mount Taurus. This 
range was by the Hebrews called Mash, (Gen. x. 23,) and 
by the modern Arabs, Judi. 

The north-eastern district of Mesopotamia, through which 
the Mygdonius flowed, was anciently called Mygdonia. Its 
chief town was Nisibis, and bears the same name at this 
time. It is proper to mention this place, as some have sup- 
posed, but without foundation, that it is the same with the 
Zobah of the Bible, (1 Sam. xiv. 47, 2 Sam. viii. 3,) which 
was a town of Ccele-Syria, 



GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE, 



PLACES IN MESOPOTAMIA, MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE. 

I. Ur of the Chaldees, the birth-place of Abram, (Gen. 
xi. 27, 28,) In the fourth century it was the theatre of a war 
between the Roman emperor Julian and the Persians. It 
cannot be denied, however, that there is a place in Chal- 
dea Proper, which the eastern Jews still call Ur of the 
Chaldees, as Mr. Wolff, the missionary, informs us, and 
which is generally known by the name of Orfa; the latter 
is the ancient Edessa. 

II. Haran. Here Terah stopped on his journey, (Gen. 
xi. 27, 28.) and died. The name of this place remains un- 
altered. Lat. 36° 52' N. long. 39° 5' E. of Greenwich. It 
is in the north-east part of Mesopotamia. The country is 
barren and uninviting. The Assyrian king, Sennacherib, 
destroyed this town, (2 Kings xix. 12, Isa. xxxvii. 12,) 
and in the time of Ezekiel it carried on trade with Tyre. 
(Ezek. xxviii. 23.) This place is in the New Testament, 
(Acts vii. 4,) called Charran. 

III. Tel-abib, a place upon the river Chebar, where 
some of the Jewish exiles lived, and whither Ezekiel went. 
(Ezek. iii. 15.) Probably this stood upon the ground occu- 
pied by the modern Thalaba. 

IV. Carchemish, was upon the Euphrates. It was taken 
by Pharaoh Necho, and then by Nebuchadnezzar. (2 Kings, 
xxiii. 29, Jer. xlvi. 2, 2 Chron. xxxv. 20, Josephus Antiq. 
B. x. c. 6.) It was called by the Romans, Circesium, and 
is now known as Kirkisia. It stood at the spot where the 
Chebar falls into the Euphrates. 

V. Hena, (See 2 Kings xix. 12, Isa. xxxvii. 12, as 
above,) is thought to be the same with the modern Anah, 
which lies upon both sides of the Euphrates, and abounds 
with fruit. 

VI. Sepharvaim, was one of the places whence Shaima- 
neser sent colonies into the land of Israel. (2 Kings xvii. 24, 
xviii. 34, Isa. xxxvi. 19.) It would appear (2 Kings xix. 
13, Isa. xxxvii. 13,) that it was a small kingdom. It is 
thought to be the same with Siphara, 



ASIA MINOR. 29 

VII. Thelasar, lay, as we conjecture, in the same region, 
although we are entirely ignorant of its exact position. (2 
Kings xix. 12, Isa. xxxvii. 12.) It has been thought that 
this was the same with Ellasar, (Gen. xiv. 1.) 

In very early times we read of Chushan-rishathaim, 
(Judg. iii. 8,) king of Mesopotamia, but hear little after- 
wards of the history of this country until we find it a part 
of the Assyrian, Persian, and Macedonian empires. 



The name of Asia Mine? is given to that large peninsula 
which stretches out into the Mediterranean, at the west of 
Asia. It is included between 36° and 42° N. lat. and 26° 
and 39° E. long, from Greenwich. It extends on the east 
to the Euphrates, north to the Black or Euxine Sea, west 
to the Sea of Marmora, the Hellespont, and the Dardanelles, 
and south to the Mediterranean. When mentioned in the 
New Testament it is simply called Asia, (Acts xix, 26, 27,) 
yet this name is generally given to a small portion of the 
peninsula, comprehending, as far as we can learn, Lydia in 
its largest sense, including Ionia and iEolis. (Wells.) (Acts 
xvi. 6, ii. 9, vi. 9, xix. 10, 22, xx. 16, xxi. 27, xxiv. 19, 
1 Cor. xvi. 19, 2 Cor. i. 8, 1 Pet. i. 1, Rev. i. 4, 11.) The 
name of this country is now Anadoli, or Natalia, from the 
Greek, meaning the rising of the sun. The French and 
Italians call it the Levant, which has the same meaning. 

The face of the country is mountainous. Mount Taurus, 
which is one of the principal ranges of Asia, begins in the 
region adjacent to the JEgaean sea, and presents to view a 
a chain of snow-clad mountains which stretch in a curve 
through the whole land. Between these and a more north- 
ern chain, there are numerous valleys, which, though na- 
turally fertile, are mostly unproductive at this day. 

The chief river of Asia Minor is the ancient Halys, now 
called Kisil-Irmak, which rises in the S. E. part, takes a 
course first eastward and then northward, and passing 
through a part of Cappadocia, Galatia and Pontus, falls 
into the Black sea near Basira. 

The Iris, (now Jekil-Irmak,) rises near Kara-Hissar and 
c 2 



30 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

falls into the Black sea, near Sarnsun. The Py ramus (now 
Bscheihan,) flows to the Mediterranean. 

The climate is moderate, on account of the sea-breezes 
which refresh the land upon three sides. During the 
greatest prevalence of heat, the mountains afford a salutary- 
resort. The soil varies in different parts ; but although 
there are many fertile vales, not half the arable land is un- 
der cultivation. The productions of the earth are wheat, 
rice, tobacco, saffron, olives; and cotton. 

DIVISIONS OF ASIA MINOR. 

By the ancients, Asia Minor was divided into twelve 
principal countries, some of which were separate kingdoms. 
Three of these were northern, bordering on the Black Sea, 
viz. Po?itus, Paphlagonia,2LiidBithynia; three western, upon 
the Egsean sea, viz. Mysia (including Troas,) Lydia, (with 
a part of JEolis and Ionia,) and Caria, (which took in Do- 
ris and the remainder of Ionia;) three southern, viz. Lycia, 
Pisidia, (with Pamphylia) and Cilicia ; three in the in- 
terior, viz. Phrygia (with Lycaonia,) Galatia, and Cappa- 
docia (with the smaller Armenia.) 

Most of these are mentioned in the New Testament, as 
Asia Minor was the principal field of labour of the Apostles 
Peter and Paul. 

I. Pontus, lies in the north-east, upon the Black Sea, 
and reaches from the river Halys as far east as Colchis. It is 
bounded west by Paphlagonia, and south by Cappadocia, 
The descendants of Tubal are supposed to have been its 
earliest inhabitants. Pontus and Cappadocia formed one 
province under the Komans. There were Jews residing 
in Pontus during the time of Christ. (Acts r*. 9.) The 
gospel was preached there at an early date. The apostle 
Peter directs, his first epistle to them, among others. (1 Pet. 
i. 1.) This was the birth-place of Aquila, (Acts xviii. 2, 
3, 18, 36, Rom. xvi. 3, 1 Cor. xvi. 19, 2 Tim. iv. 19,) 
who was the companion of Paul. 

Among the principal towns were Amasta, Themscyra, 
the residence of the Amazons, Cerasus, whence cherries 
were first brought to Europe, and derived their name, (ce- 
rasa, Latin ; cerises, French) Trapezus, now Trebizonde ; 
these are not recorded in the Scriptures. In the Apocry- 



ASIA MINOR. 31 

pha Sampsame is mentioned ; (IMac. xv. 23;) probably the 
modern Samsun, a trading town at the mouth of the Iris, 
of 700 families. 

II. Paphlagonia, was divided by the Halys from Pontus, 
and on the west by the river Parthenius (now Bartin) from 
Bithynia. On the north bounded by the Black sea, on the 
south by Galatia. The eastern part has lofty mountains ; 
the western is a well-w^atered plain. The chief town was 
Sinope, upon a river of the same name (now Sinob) which 
falls into the Black sea. This was the birth-place of Dio- 
genes the Cynic. 

III. Bithynia w r as separated from Paphlagonia, on the 
east by the river Parthenius ; on the west were the sea of 
Marmora, and the river Rhyndacus (now Mehullidsch ;) on 
the north the Black sea, and on the south Phrygia and Galatia. 
The river Sangarius (now Sacari) falls into the Black sea. 
Olympus is the principal mountain. Among its cities, two 
are w r orthy of notice ; Nice which was formerly called An- 
tigonia, and now Isnik, at w r hich was held, A. D. 325, the 
first general council, at which Arianism was condemned : 
and Chalcedon, now called Kadikjoi, where was held, A.D. 
451, the fourth general council, at which the Eutychians 
were condemned. # The apostle Paul was prevented from 
visiting Bithynia. (Acts xvi. 7.) 

IV. Mysia was bounded north by the Propontis, or sea of 
Marmora ; west by the Hellespont ; south by JEolis ; and se- 
parated from Bithynia on the west by Aesepus or Aesapus, 
now called Spiga. If we take in iEolis, as was done in 
later times, the southern boundary will be the river Her- 
mus (now Sarabad,) which is the northern limit of Lydia. 
Mysia is even now a beautiful and fertile country. In the 
northern part was Troas, or the region of ancient Troy. 
Not far from the site of this was Troas, (now Eshi-Stam- 
but) which was twice visited by the apostle Paul, (Acts xvi. 
8, xx. 6,) and is mentioned in his epistles (2 Cor. ii. 12, 
2 Tim. iv.13.) 

* The Avians were followers of Anus, who denied the proper divinity 
of Christ, and considered him an exalted being created before all worlds, and 
by whose instrumentality the worlds were made. The Eutychians were 
also ancient heretics, who denied that there was any distinction of natures 
in Christ. 



32 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

Assos (Acts xx. 13, 14.) was opposite to the island of 
Lesbos ; it is now a miserable hamlet, called Beiram. 

Pergamos, is memorable as the place where one of the 
seven churches mentioned in the Apocalypse, existed. 
(Rev. i. 11.) Its modern name is Bergamo. This town 
was built upon the northern bank of the Caicus. The 
heresy of the Nicolaitanes corrupted the church of Perga- 
mos, for which it was reproved. (Rev. ii. 14 — 16.) It has 
at present about 30,000 inhabitants, including 3,000 Greek 
Christians. It is about 60 miles north of Smyrna. 

V. Lydia was bounded east by Greater Phrygia ; north 
by iEolis or Mysia ; west by Ionia and the iEgean sea, and 
on the south by the river Meander, which divided it from 
Caria. The country is generally level. The Tmolus was its 
principal mountain, and the Pactolus and Cayster its chief 
rivers. The Pactolus was celebrated for its golden sands. 
Some have supposed that the descendants of Lud (Gen. x. 
22,) peopled Lydia ; but there is a people called Lud who 
lived in Africa. (Gen. x. 13, Isa. lxvi. 19, Jer. xlvi. 9, 
Ezek. xxvii. 10, xxx. 5.) 

The New Testament mentions three Lydian cities, Thy- 
atira, Sardis, and Philadelphia. 

Thyatira, the most northern of these, was upon the river 
Lycus, between Pergamos and Sardis. It was the birth- 
place of the pious Lydia, (Acts xvi. 14, 15, 40,) and con- 
tained one of the seven churches of Asia; (Rev. i. 11;) it 
still exists under the name of Ak-hisar, and contains a num- 
ber of nominal Christians. (Rev. ii. 18 — 29.) 

Sardis was the chief city of Lydia, and until the time of 
Crcesus, who was conquered by Cyrus, the centre of the 
Lydian monarchy. It lies on the bank of the Pactolus, 
near mount Tmolus. Here also was one of the seven 
churches; (Rev. i. 11, iii. 1 — 6;) a wretched village call- 
ed Sart still remains. We are informed that " a few names" 
are found even in Sardis, who received with gratitude the 
New Testament in modern Greek. 

Philadelphia, the seat of one of the seven churches of 
Asia, about 70 miles S. E. from Smyrna, and 25 from Sar- 
dis. It was situated upon a branch of Mount Tmolus. 
In this place was one of the seven churches, to whom the 
Saviour directed his message by John. Here are to be 
seen the relics of a noble city, and it is still called by the 



ASIA MINOR. 33 

Turks, Alah-sher, l the beautiful city. ' About a thousand 
Christians reside here. (See Rev. i. 11. iii. 1 — 14) 
"Among the Greek colonies and churches of Asia," says 
Gibbon, "Philadelphia is still erect — a column in a scene 
of ruins." 

VI. Ionia was considered by the ancients as the garden 
of Asia. It was bounded east by Lydia ; north by Mysia ; 
west by the iEgean sea ; and south by Caria. Its chief 
cities were Miletus, Phocea, Ephesus, and Smyrna. 

Smyrna is the most northern, and is called by the Turks 
Ismir. It is situated upon a bay formed by the little river 
Melos. In all Asia there was no city more beautiful. Al- 
though frequently destroyed by earthquakes, it contains 
even now as many as 120,000 inhabitants, and carries on 
an important trade with Europe and America, being the 
principal commercial town in the Levant. The Greeks 
have here a bishop and two churches. 

The church of Smyrna enjoyed the labours of the mar- 
tyr Polycarp, and was commended by the Lord Jesus 
Christ. (Rev. i. 11, ii. 8 — 11.) There is no city of Asia 
Minor in which the Christians are in a better condition. 

Ephesus, was, under the Romans, the capital of procon- 
sular Asia, and stood about five miles from the mouth of 
the river Cayster, and 45 S. of Smyrna. Here was the 
temple of Diana which became the wonder of the world 
and of posterity. Its length was 425 feet, its breadth 220, 
and it was supported by 127 columns 60 feet high. On 
the night of Alexander's birth it was set on fire by one 
Herostratus, but was rebuilt with still more splendour than 
before. In this edifice was the wooden statue of Diana, 
which the Ephesians supposed had fallen from heaven. 
(Acts xix. 35.) Little models of this temple were made of 
silver, and sold to the devotees, (xix. 24.) Christianity was 
here introduced by the apostle Paul, about A.D. 54. (Acts 
xviii. 19, xix. 8.) It was visited also by Apollos, (Acts 
xviii. 24,) and was the place where Onesiphorus showed 
kindness to Paul. (2 Tim. i. 18.) The church here was 
addressed in an epistle by this apostle, and afterwards by 
our Lord himself. (Rev. i. 11, ii. 1 — 7.) A poor Turkish 
yillage is all that remains of the splendid Ephesus. 

Trogyllium, a town at the foot of Mount Mycale, where 



34 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

the apostle Paul tarried for a night on his journey from 
Assos to Miletus. (Acts xx. 15.) 

Miletus, in the southern part of Ionia, was second only 
to Ephesus in splendour. At present there are only the 
ruins of certain palaces and temples, near a shepherds' village 
called Palat, near the mouth of the Meander. Here it was 
that Paul gathered the elders of Ephesus, and bade them 
farewell ; (Acts xx. 17 ;) here he left Trophimus sick, on 
one of his journeys. (2 Tim. iv. 20.) 

VII. Carta, was situated at the S. west extremity of Asia 
Minor, and bounded east by Lycia and Phrygia ; north by 
Lydia and Ionia ; west by the iEgean, and south by the 
Mediterranean sea. The land is mountainous, and was 
early settled by the Phoenicians. 

Cnidus was a city on the point of a peninsula, and was 
passed by the apostle Paul, (Acts xxvii. 7,) on his first 
voyage, as a prisoner, to Rome. 

VIII. Lycia was bounded on the west by Caria ; south by 
the Mediterranean and Syrian sea ; east by Pamphy lia ; and 
north by Phrygia. The country is very mountainous, and 
the Taurus here has its south-western commencement. 
Among the many cities of this province, only two are no- 
ticed in the Bible : viz. Patara and Myra. 

Patara was a large and rich sea-port town. It was call- 
ed Arsinoe by Ptolemy Philadelphus, in honour of his 
queen. Here the apostle Paul once embarked for Phoenicia, 
on his way to Jerusalem. (Acts xxi. 1, 2.) Near the ruins 
of Patara stands an ordinary village, called Scamandro. 

Myra was one of the six great cities of Lycia, and a sea- 
port. Here also Paul touched, (Acts xxvii. 5,) on his 
voyage to Rome, and took ship for Italy. 

IX. Pamphylia was east of Lycia, bounded south by the 
Mediterranean; north by Pisida; and east by Cilicia. The 
country is hilly, and is watered by the river Eurymedon 
(now St. Nicholas.) 

Attalia was a city visited by the apostle Paul (Acts xiv, 
25,) in his travels through Asia Minor. It is upon the sea, 
at the place where the river Cataractes falls from a height 
into the sea. At the present day it is known by the names 
Attalia, Antalia t and Satalia* 



ASIA MINOR. 35 

Perga was once the capital of the province, and stood 
near the sea upon the river Cestrus. Paul was twice in 
this city. (Acts xiii. 13, 14, xiv. 25.) It is supposed to be 
the same with Kirahisar, in a district called Tekieb. 

X. Pisidia, was chiefly among the mountains of Taurus, 
north of Pamphylia. There was an Antioch in Pisidia 
which must be carefully distinguished from the Syrian An- 
tioch, as well as other cities of the same name. In a syna- 
gogue of this city Paul preached a memorable discourse, 
(Acts xiii. 14 — 41,) and was expelled by the people, (ver. 
50, 2 Tim. iii. 11.) An insignificant town, called Ak- 
Shehr, occupies the ancient site. 

XI. Cilicia stretches along the coast of the Mediterranean 
from the river Melas, which divides it from Pamphylia, 
towards Syria, where it is bounded by the mountain Ama- 
nus. Taurus is its northern limit. 

Tarsus, the birth-place of the apostle Paul, and the chief 
city of Cilicia, was situated in a fertile plain upon the river 
Cydnus, (now Kara-Su.) (Acts xxi. 39.) Although sub- 
ject, in the apostle's time, to the Roman sway, it was a 
free city ; that is, it had its own municipal government, and 
its own laws. From this privilege, or possibly in conse- 
quence of some honour conferred on his immediate ances- 
try, Paul was a Roman citizen. (Acts xvi. 37, xxii. 29.) 
It is now a poor, dilapidated town, belonging to Cyprus. 

XII. Cappadocia was bounded on the east by Armenia ; 
north by Potus ; west by Lycaonia ; and south by Cilicia. 
It is a hilly but fertile tract of country. Christianity was 
introduced into Cappadocia at a very early period. The 
Christians of this province are mentioned by the apostle • 
Peter in his first epistle, (i. 1.) Some of these had probably 
been converted on the day of Pentecost. (Acts ii. 9.) 

XIII. Lycaonia was bounded east by Cappadocia; north 
by Galatia ; west by Phrygia ; south by Iscauria and Cili- 
cia. It is uncertain whether the dialect of Lyconia (Acts 
xiv. 11,) was the old Assyrian language, or a corruption of 
the Greek. 

Iconium was the principal city, and was situated at the 
foot of mount Taurus. Its present name is Conia, and it 



36 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

is the seat of a Pacha. Here the gospel was preached by Paul 
and Barnabas, (Acts xiii. 51, xiv. 1,) and with great success, 
and although they were speedily forced to leave the place 
(ver. 6.) and proceed to Lystra and Derbe. The latter was 
east of Iconium, at the foot of the range of mountains call- 
ed Anti-Taurus, and was the birth-place of Gaius, the fellow- 
traveller of Paul. (Acts xx. 4.) Lystra was south of Ico- 
nium, and is signalized by a miracle of the apostle, (Acts 
xiv. 8 — 19,) and as being the birth-place of Timothy, the 
coadjutor of Paul. (Acts xvi. 1, 2, 2 Tim. iii. 11.) 

XIV. Phrygia was bounded east by Cappadocia ; north 
by Galatia and Bithynia ; west by Mysia, Lydia and Ca- 
ria ; and south by Lydia and Pisidia. The land is fertile 
and generally level. Several large rivers flow through it, 
as the Meander and the Marsyas, w r hich after their junction 
fall into the iEgean sea, and the Hermus, (now the Sarabad.) 
In the New Testament we find three cities of Phrygia, 
which were all in the same region, viz. Colosse, Laodicea, 
and Hierapolis. 

Colosse, or perhaps more properly Colasse, was a city 
on the river Lycus, (now the Gorduk.) Upon the same 
spot are a castle and village called Chonos. About A. D. 
65 Colosse was overwhelmed by an earthquake. Before 
this, however, a Christian church had been established 
here, of which Epaphras was the pastor. (Col. i. 7, iv. 
12, 13.) An epistle directed to this church is still extant 
among the books of the New Testament. The apostle 
Paul had twice visited the northern part of Phrygia; but it 
does not appear that he had ever been at Colosse. (Acts 
xvii. 6, xviii. 23, Col. ii. 1.) 

Laodicea, upon the river Lycas, was the chief city of the 
province called Phrygia, Pacatiana, (1 Tim. vi. 22,) and 
a place of trade, much visited by Jews. The Turkish 
name is Eski-hissar, and the town lay upon the confines of 
Phrygia and Lydia about 40 miles east of Ephesus. Let 
this be distinguished from Laodicea combusta, which was 
in the eastern part of Phrygia, and also from Laodicea ad 
Mare* which occupied the ground of the present port of 
Aleppo, and from Laodicea ad Libanum, which was near 

* This, and not the Laodicea of the Apocalypse was the place de- 
stroyed by the earthquake of 1822. — See Mansford's Scripture Ga- 
zetteer, p. 314, London 1829. 



SYRIA, OR ARAM. 37 

mount Lebanon in Syria. There was a church here, when 
Paul wrote to the Colossians, (ch. iv. 16.) and to this 
church were directed the warnings recorded in the Apoca- 
lypse. (Rev. i. 1], iii. 14 — 22.) 

Hierapolis (now Pambuk-Kulassi) was south of Laodicea, 
and though remarkable for its hot baths and its ancient 
splendour, is mentioned but once in the Bible ; (Col. iv. 
13 ;) it was five miles from the city last mentioned. 

XV. Galatia was bounded on the north by Paphlago- 
nia ; west by Bithynia and a part of Phrygia ; south by 
Phrygia and Cappadocia ; and east by Cappadocia and 
Pontus. The inhabitants were Celts, or Gauls, who settled 
here some centuries before Christ. The Galatians were a 
warlike people, and often served in foreign wars. 

Ancyra, (now Angura or Enguri,) was the chief city. 
Christianity was introduced into Galatia by the apostle 
Paul, (Gal. i. 6, 8, iv. 13,) who visited the country twice. 
The first of these visits was in company with Silas and 
Timothy, (Acts xvi. 6,) about the year 53, as is supposed ; 
the other, four years later, on his return from Corinth. 
(Acts xviii. 23.) One of his companions in labour, by name 
Crescens, (2 Tim. iv. 10,) appears to have preached in 
Galatia. 

SYHIJkj OR ARAM, 

Syria, called Aram in the earlier Scripture writings, 
from Aram, the son of Shem ; an extensive empire of the 
East, including, in its largest sense, all the country between 
the Mediterranean sea and the river Cydnus on the west ; 
the Euphrates on the east ; and from mount Taurus on 
the north, to the confines of Egypt and Arabia,, on the 
south. It has usually been divided, for description's sake, 
into Upper Syria, or Syria Proper ; (which was that so de- 
nominated, before it was conquered and incorporated with 
Assyria;) Cceie-Syria, or Hollow Syria, so called from its 
situation between the two great ridges of Libanus and 
Anti-Libanus : and Syria Palestina, which included the 
Holy Land, and that maritime border on its north-western 
side which the Greeks called Phoenicia." (Mansford.) 

D 



GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 



MOUNT LEBANON. 



The greatest and most famous range of mountains in Sy- 
ria is Lebanon, an extensive and lofty chain, which stretches 
from the sea-shore in two parallel branches from south- 
west to north-east. The more southern of these is Anti- 
Libanus, or that which is over against Lebanon Proper. 
An eastern branch of this is called by Moses Hermon, 
(Deut. iii. 9,) and also Sion. (Deut. iv. 48.) In the former 
of these texts we are told, that the Sidonians called it Sirion, 
and the Amorites Shenir. Both these names mean " a coat 
of mail." In the later books of the Old Testament they 
are distinguished from one another. (1 Chron. v. 23, Song 
Sol. iv. 8.) Amaha was probably a peak of the same moun- 
tain. Between Libanus or Lebanon and Anti-Libanus, is 
included, as is stated above, Code- Syria. Lebanon was so 
called from its whiteness, not only because of its eternal 
snows, but from the hue of its limestone rocks. From these 
rocks flowed the purest water, (Song Sol. iv. 15,) and above 
them the mountain summits were covered with snow. 
Hence we may discern the beauty, and propriety of the 
comparison, (Jer. xviii. 14,) Will a man leave the snow of 
Lebanon which cometh from the rock of the field 1 or shall 
the cold flowing waters that come from another place be for- 
saken ? 

The lower parts of the mountain are as delightful as the 
heights are terrible. To enjoy the pure air and charm- 
ing prospects of these, Solomon erected buildings there/ 
(1 Kings ix. 19.) The wine of these tracts is celebrated. 
(Hos. xiv. 7.) 

- The Cedars of Lebanon have become proverbial, and ex- 
cel those of all other lands. Besides their uncommon size 
and beauty of shape and foliage, they send forth a bal- 
samic odour, which seems to be meant by " the smell of 
Lebanon." (Hos. xiv. 6, Song Sol. iv. 11.) This cedar 
was abundant in ancient times : of this wood were built 
the city of Persepolis, the temple at Jerusalem, and the 
palace of Solomon ; and in the last of these so much of 
this material was used, that it was called, (1 Kings vii. 2, x. 
17,) the house of the forest of Lebanon. The Tyrians used 
it in ship-building. (Ezek. xxvii. 5, 6.) 

Mount Hor was probably a north-eastern branch of Le- 



SYRIA, OR ARAM. 39 

banon, (Num. xxxiv. 7, 8,) and the northern boundary of 
the land of Israel. 

RIVERS OF SYRIA. 

The Orontes and the Eleutherus are the most distinguish- 
ed rivers of Syria ; but we pass them by, as they are not 
named in the Bible. 

The Abana was a river of Damascus, mentioned (2 Kings 
v. 12,) by Naaman the Syrian. It is generally said that it 
was one of the branches of the Chrysorroas, (now Baradi,) 
which rises in Anti-Libanus, and, dividing into five 
streams, waters the whole country around Damascus, so as 
to make this region, in the midst of the desert, truly fertile 
and beautiful. 

The Pharpar, named in the same connexion, is proba- 
bly the river now called Fidsheh. It rises north-west of 
Damascus, and unites its clear and beautiful waters with 
those of the Baradi. 

DIVISIONS OF SYRIA. 

Syria Proper embraces that country which lies be- 
tween the mountains Amanus and Lebanon on the north 
and south ; and between the Euphrates and the Mediter- 
ranean on the east and west : it was divided, during David's 
time, into several small kingdoms, which are thus named in 
the Scriptures. 

I. Aram-Zoba. It should be remembered that Aram is 
the Hebrew name of Syria. This portion of Syria lay upon 
the Euphrates ; for when David went to " recover his bor- 
der" upon this river, (2 Sam. viii. 3, 1 Chron. xviii. 3,) 
he smote Hadarezer, king of Zobah. After this, Hadare- 
zer brought as allies " the Syrians that were beyond the 
river ;" (2 Sam. x. 16;) that is, Mesopotamians from the east 
of Euphrates. Berothai, (2 Sam. viii. 8,) is probably the 
modern Beyroot; and if so, Aram-Zobah extended westward 
to the Mediterranean. Zobah is often mentioned, (1 Sam. 
xiv. 47, x. 6, 1 Kings xi. 24, 25,) and is placed, with much 
probability, between Damascus and Aleppo. 

II. Aram-Dammesek, (2 Sam. viii. 5, 6,) or the Syrians 
of Damascus* A part of Damascene Syria, seems to be 



GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

meant by. the land of Hadrack, (Zech. ix. 1,) which is con- 
nected with Damascus. 

III. Arum- Maachah, (1 Chron. xix. 6,) translated Syria- 
Maachah, and sometimes called simply Maachah, (2 Sam. 
x. 6, 8,) seems to have been situated south of Damascus, on 
the east of the Jordan, and north of the Hebrew coun- 
try ; for the Reubenites and Gadites, (Deut. iii. 14. Jos. 
xiii. 13,) possessed as far north as Maacha. 

IY. Aram Beth-rehob. The Syrians of Beth-rehob, (2 
Sam. x. 6,) were allies of the Ammonites against David. 
It lay upon the northern frontier of the Israelites' territory ; 
for Laish which was taken by the Danites, (Judg. xviii. 28,) 
w r as near to Beth-rehob, and the Asherites are said (Judg. i. 
31,) not to have driven out the inhabitants of Kehob. We 
may therefore consider this as the country now called Ard-el- 
hhule, at the foot of Anti-Libanus, near the sources of the 
Jordan. Hul was the name of a son of Aram. (Gen. x. 23.) 

V. Hamath was a province upon the Orontes, with a city 
of the same name, which it still retains. In Genesis, (x. 18,) 
the Hamathites are named among the descendants of Ca- 
naan ; and in later times we read of Hamath as the northern 
limit of the land of the Hebrews. (Num. xiii. 21, xxxiv. 8, 
Josh. xiii. 5, Judg. iii. 3.) In David's time Toi was king of 
Hamath. (2 Sam. viii. 9.) 

VI. Arpad is always joined with Hamath, (2 Kings xviii. 
34, xix. 13, Isa. x. 9, xxxvi. 19, Jer. xlix. 23,) whence 
we infer that it was, perhaps, adjacent to the latter upon 

the east. 

VII. Hour an is named by Ezekiel, (ch. x.vii. 16, 18,) as 
the future boundary of Israel upon the north. The name is 
retained in the Greek Auranitis or Oranitis, and the coun- 
try reaches from the sea of Tiberias, on the east of the Jor- 
dan, as far north as Damascus. 

VIII. Geshur, a district of Syria, bordered upon the 
north of the Hebrew territory, (2 Sam. xv. 8, 1 Chron. ii. 
23,) and lay between Mount Hermon, Maachah, and Ba- 
shan. (Deut. iii. 13, 14, Josh. xii. 3, 4-) The Geshurites 



SYRIA, OR ARAM. 41 

and Maachathites were not expelled by the Israelites under 
Joshua ; (Josh. xiii. 2, 13,) and in David's reign Geshur 
had its own king, Talmai, (2 Sam. iii. 3,) whose daughter, 
Maachah, was the mother of Absalom. (2 Sam. xiii. 37, 
xv. 8.) The name Geshur signifies a bridge ; from this 
comes the Arabic Jisr or Jisser ; ai\d in this region, where 
we place Geshur, between Mount Hermon and the sea of 
Tiberias, there is now a bridge over the Upper Jordan, 
called Jisr Beni-Jakub, " the bridge of the sons of Jacob." 

IX. Abilene was governed, about the time of Christ, 
(Luke iii. 1,) by a certain Lysanias, who had the title of 
Tetrach. It was probably adjacent to Galilee, Ituria, and 
Trachonitis ; being north-west of Damascus, and south of 
Heliopolis or Balbec. Here was the city of Abela. 

At the present day, under the Ottoman power, Syria is 
divided into five districts, under as many Pachas, or go- 
vernors ; viz. (1.) The Pachalic of Hhaleb or Aleppo, 
comprising Aintab, Badshasse, Alexandrette, and Antakia. 
(•2.) The Pachalic of Damascus, including Hebron, Jerusa- 
lem, Nablus, Bostra, Hhoms, and Hhamah. (3.) The Pa- 
chalic of Tarablus or Tripoli, to which is subordinate the 
country on the coast, from Dschebail (Byblus) northward to 
Latakia. (4.) The Pachalic Seida or Akka, from Dsche- 
bail southward to Jaffa, including the mountain of the Dru- 
ses. (5.) The Pachalic of^Gaza, in which is Jaffa. 

CITIES, AND REMARKABLE PLACES IN SYRIA. 

We shall find it most convenient, in enumerating the 
places of Syria which are mentioned in the Scriptures, to 
proceed regularly from north to south. 

I. Seleucia was a sea-port town, built by Seleucus Nica- 
tor, the first Grecian king of Syria, near the mouth of the 
Orontes or Aasi. Here the apostle Paul took ship for Cy- 
prus. (Acts xiii. 4.) A village may still be found there, in- 
habited chiefly by Armenians, and called Kapse, 

II. Antioch, on the Orontes ; about midway between 
Constantinople and Alexandria, in 35° 17' north latitude, 
and 36° 45' east longitude from Greenwich. It was about 

d2 



42 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

20 miles from the sea, and long the residence of the Syrian 
kings. The apostle Paul and Barnabas preached at An- 
tioch, and here the disciples were first called Christians. 
(Acts xi. 26, xiii. 1, xiv. 21, xv. 22, Gal. ii. 11 — 21.) 
The poor remains of this splendid city are called by the 
Arabs, Antakia. A few. Greeks and Armenians reside here. 

III. Helhon or Aleppo, called likewise Chalydon and 
Hhaleb was one of the most ancient, rich, and populous of 
the Syrian cities. Its trade with Tyre is noticed by the 
prophet Ezekiel, (ch. xxvii. 18.) It is even now one of 
the most agreeable cities of Turkey, and contained in 1815 
something less than 100,000 souls. In 1822 it was almost 
entirely destroyed by a tremendous earthquake. 

IV. Rezeph, was mentioned by Rab-shakeh, (2 Kings 
xix. 12, Isa. xxxvii. 12,) among the cities of Mesopotamia 
and Syria, which the Assyrians had taken. It stood about 
a day's journey west of the Euphrates, where the modern 
Arsoffa is found. 

Y. Tiphsah was the boundary of Solomon's kingdom to- 
wards the north-east, as Gaza, (or Azzah,) was upon the 
south-west. (1 Kings iv. 24.) The name signifies a ford, 
and it was probably a crossing- place upon the Euphrates. 
It is supposed to be a different place from the Tiphsah, 
which was conquered by Menahem. (2 Kings xv. 16.) 

VI. Rehoboth by the river, (Euphrates,) which is named 
as the native place of Saul, king of Edom, (Gen. xxxvi. 
37,) is probably the same as to situation with the modern 
Errachabi, an Arabian town near the Euphrates. 

VII. Hamath, on the Orontes, is very frequently men- 
tioned in the Old Testament. This was, in David's time, 
the capital of a small kingdom, (see p. 40 above,) and is 
called Hamaih the great by Amos, (ch. vi. 2.) It was con- 
quered by the Assyrians during the reign of Hezekiah. 
(2 Kings xvii. 24, xviii. 34, xix. 13, Isa. x. 9, xxxvi. 19.) 
The name in later times was Epiphania.but it has at present 
resumed its old name. 

VIII. Riblah was one of the places through which the 
north-eastern line of the Hebrew territory passed. (Num. 



SYRIA, OR ARAM. 43 

xxxiv. 11.) When the Chaldeans conquered Jerusalem, 
this city belonged to the district of Hamath, (2 Kings xxiii, 
33, Jer. xxxix. 5, Hi. 10,) and was the place of the con- 
queror's head-quarters. Its exact situation cannot he dis- 
covered. 

IX. Tadmor or Thamar, a city built by Solomon, (I 
Kings ix. 18. 2 Chron. viii. 4,) between the Euphrates 
and Hamath, and south-east of the latter. The Hebrew 
name signifies a Palm-tree, and hence the Greeks called 
it Palmyra, "the cityof palms." It was about 180 miles 
from the Mediterranean. The ruins still existing show 
that it was one of the most glorious of ancient cities. At 
present it is " a forest of Corinthian pillars, erect and 
fallen/ ' in the midst of an arid desert. It is 200 miles 
south-east of Aleppo. Lon. 38° 50' E. lat. 33° 20' N. 

X. Baal-gad was situated, (Josh. xi. 18, xii. 7,) in the 
valley of Lebanon, under mount Hermon, and was among the 
places unconquered by the Israelites at the death of Joshua. 
(Josh. xiii. 5.) By the Greeks it was called Heliopolis, and 
by the modern natives Balbec, both of which mean the city 
of the sun. It was, perhaps, the place called (Song Sol. 
viii.) Baal-hamon; and also, (1 Kings ix. 18,) Baalath. It is 
situated at the foot of Anti-Lebanon, just where the moun- 
tain ends in a plain, and presents to the traveller a magnifi- 
cent spectacle of ruins, among which, those of the temple 
of the sun are most conspicuous. Balbec is 37 miles north 
of Damascus. Lon. 37° 20' E. lat. 34° 22' N. 

XI. Damascus. The most ancient city which now exists. 
The Hebrews called it Dammesek, the Arabs Dimashk, the 
Syrians Darmsuk, and the modern inhabitants El- Sham, 
By the Arabs it is numbered among the four eastern Para- 
dises. It is situated upon the river Baradi, (the ancient 
Chrysorroas,) 200 miles from Antioch. Its population is at 
least 100,000. The ancient walls are in ruins, but the city 
is still distinguished for its trade. The water is unequalled, 
and the climate a perpetual spring. It was the native place 
of Eliezer, the servant of Abraham ; (Gen. xv. 2;) it was 
subdued by David, (2 Sam. viii. 5, 6,) who placed a garri- 
son there. During the latter part of Solomon's reign it was 
invaded and possessed by a certain Rezon. (1 Kings xi. 



44 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE, 

23, 24, 25.) Long after this, Asa, king of Judah, entered 
into a league with Benhadad, the king of Damascus. (1 
Kings xv. 18* — 22.) Jeroboam II. conquered this city. (2 
Kings xiv. 28.) In New-Testament times, we find it under 
subjection to Aretas, king of Arabia, from whose governor 
the apostle Paul escaped. (2 Cor. xi. 32, 33.) 

XII. Hohah, a place north of Damascus. (Gen. xiv. 15.) 
Abram pursued thus far the kings whom he conquered. A 
hill is still shown to travellers, near Damascus, which is 
said to be the same place, and which bears the same name. 

XIII. Beth-Eden, or House of Pleasure, is referred to by 
the prophet Amos, (ch. i. 5,) and appears from this passage 
to have been the seat of a kingdom 770 years before Christ 
The modern village Ehden, on mount Lebanon, is by the 
oriental Christians supposed to be within the limits of the 
terrestrial Paradise. The modern traveller, Burckhardt. 
found a place still nearer to Damascus, which had a name 
of the same signification ; viz. Beit el-Dschanne, and which 
is probably the house of Eden mentioned by the prophet. 

XIV. Berothai or Berothah is supposed to be the modem 
Beyroot ; but this is left in great uncertainty, and w r e are 
constrained to confess our ignorance. (2 Sam. viii. 8, Ezek 
xlvii. 16.) 

XV. Betah is mentioned in connexion with Berothai, 
(2 Sam. viii. 8,) and is likewise unknown. The same 
must be said of Sibraim, (Ezek. xlvii. 16,) a neighbouring 
place. 

XVI. Ziphron, Zedad, and Hdgar-enan were upon the 
north-eastern frontier of Israel, but their exact position is 
undetermined. (Num. xxxiv. 8 — 10, Ezek. xlvii. 15.) 

XVII. Hazar-hatticon, or Middle-court, was situated, 
(Ezek. xlvii. 16,) on the borders of Hauran or Auranitis, 
and consequently upon the south-east border of Syria. 

XVIII. Hethlon appears, (Ezek. xlvii. 15, xlviii. 1,) to 
have been near the Mediterranean, on the south-west bor- 
der of Syria. 



SYRIA, OR ARAM. 45 

XIX. Helam, (2 Sam. x. 16, 17,) was probably upon 
the south-eastern frontier of Syria. 

CLIMATE, SOIL, AND LANGUAGE OF SYRIA. 

li Syria divides itself into three tracts of country, very 
different in character. That portion which is adjacent to 
the Mediterranean sea, is a hot, moist, unhealthful, but ex- 
tremely fertile valley. The part next in order consists of 
a double range of parallel mountains, running from south- 
west to north-east, with innumerable cliffs, narrow valleys, 
and ravines. The air is here dry and salubrious, and on 
the western branches of the mountain, natural terraces al- 
ternate with well-watered vales, which have the most gen- 
tle and productive soil; while, on the other hand, the 
eastern heights are mountain-deserts, which approach to 
the third region. The last appears to be an extensive level 
of rocks and sands, with endless plains. The spring and 
autumn are pleasant in Syria, and the summer is moderately 
warm in the hill country ; but in the plains the heat be- 
gins suddenly, as soon as the sun reaches the equator, and 
lasts until the end of October. The winter, on the con- 
trary, is so mild that pomegranates, dates, bananas, and 
other delicate trees and plants grow and flourish in the open 
fields, while the peaks of Lebanon are glistening with ice 
and snow." (Rosenrauller.) 

Syria is, subject to earthquakes, and to destructive visita- 
tions of the locust. 

The language of ancient Syria bore a close resemblance 
to the Hebrew and Arabic, but was still more like the 
Chaldee. At present the Arabic has in great measure sup- 
planted the Syriac language. 

Syria was, in the earlier ages of its history, divided into 
a number of petty kingdoms, as Zobah, (1 Sam. xiv. 47, 2 
Sam. viii. 3,) Geshur, (2 Sam. iii. 3,) Maachah, (2 Sam, 
x. 6,) and Damascus. The kings of these countries were in 
almost constant war with the Hebrews. Saul contended 
with the kings of Zobah, (1 Sam. xiv. 47,) and David 
with Hadadezer, of the same region, (2 Sam. viii. 5.) 
During the reign of Solomon, a king of Zobah of this name 
is also mentioned. (1 Kings xi. 23.) Tabrimon, king of 
Syria, was an ally of Abijah, (1 Kings xv. 19,) but their 
descendants, Benhadad and Asa 5 were at war. The kings 



46 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE, 

of Israel and Judah, Ahab and Jehoshaphat, entered into a 
league against Benhadad the second, (1 Kings xxii. 3, 4,) 
but without success ; for the latter besieged Samaria, and 
caused great distress in Israel. (2 Kings vi.) Hazael con- 
quered Israel, and oppressed it all the days of Jehoahaz ; (2 
Kings x. 32, xii. 17, 18, xiii. 22 ;) but Benhadad III. was 
made tributary by Jeroboam II. of Israel. (2 Kings xiv. 
28.) Rezin, by means of an alliance against Judah, with 
Pekah, king of Israel, sought to gain possession of Jerusa- 
lem ; but Ahaz called to his assistance the power of the As- 
syrians, who slew Rezin, took Damascus, and carried the 
people of it captive to Kir. (2 Kings xvi. 7, 8, 9.) Syria 
then became subject, in turn, to Assyrian, Babylonian, and 
Persian dominion. 

Arabia is that great peninsula which is bounded on the 
north by part of Syria, Diarbeker, and Irak ; on the east by 
the Euphrates and Persian Gulf ; on the south by the In- 
dian ocean ; and on the west by the Red sea, Palestine and 
part of Syria. By the inhabitants it is called Jesirat el- Arab, 
or the peninsula of the Arabs. 

The ancient Hebrews denominated this region the east 
country, (Gen. xxv. 6,) and its inhabitants the_children of 
the east. (Judg. vi. 3, Job i. 3, 1 Kings iv. 30, Isa. xi. 14.) 
By Arabia they meant only a small district of the country 
now so called. (Ezek. xxvii. 21, 2 Chron. xxi. 16, 17.) 
Thus the Arabians are placed in connexion with the Phi- 
listines. (2 Chron. xxvi. 7.) By all the kings of Arabia. 
(1 Kings x. 15, Jer. xxv. 24,) we many understand the 
chiefs of wandering tribes, who, like the modern Bedouin 
Arabs, lived in tents. (Isa. xiii. 20.) When the apostle 
Paul speaks (Gal. i. 17,) of having visited Arabia, he means 
the northern part, adjacent to the country of Damascus ; 
but when he says that Sinai is in Arabia, (ch. iv. 25,) he 
uses the name in its extended signification. 

Arabia has long been divided into Arabia Petraa, Ara- 
bia Deserta, and Arabia Felix ; that is, Stony, Desert, and 
Happy Arabia. 



\ 
•\ 



ARABIA. 47 



I. ARABIA DESERTA. 

This country extends as far east as the Euphrates, which 
divides it from El-Jesira (Mesopotamia,) and Arabian Irak 
(Babylonia.) It is mostly a sandy desert, of great extent, 
with scarcely vegetation enough to support the camels by 
which it is traversed, with a few meagre herbs, and with 
scarcely any water except what is collected from the rains 
of winter. The air is pure and dry, and the heaven usu- 
ally unclouded. 

These deserts are visited by a pestilential blast, by the 
Arabs termed the Sam wind, by the Persians Samoun, by 
the Turks Simoom or Samiel. It continues only a few 
minutes, but is suffocating and fatal to those who breathe 
it. It dries up the skins of water, and leaves the bodies 
of such as are slain by it in such a condition, that the limbs 
fall to pieces upon being touched. The Hebrews called 
this destructive blast the East-wind, (Gen. xli. 6, 23,) and 
the Wind out of the wilderness, (Job i. 19, Isa. xxi. 1, 2, 
Jer. xiii. 24, Hos. xiii. 15.) 

Ever since the days of Abraham these deserts have been 
wandered over by tribes of Arabs, who reside in tents, and 
move from place to place with their herds and flocks. 
They are divided into clans, each of which has its Sheikh 
or chief. They are a warlike and unconquered people, 
and are at the present day called Bedouins. Such were the 
descendants of Abraham by Hagar and Keturah. (1 Chron. 
v. 10, Isa. xiii. 20.) The wealth of these people, like 
that of the patriarchs, consists mainly in cattle. (Gen. xiii. 
2—5, xxiv. 35, Job i. 11, 13, 17.) 

These various Arab tribes are all descended from Shem. 
Aram, the fifth of Shem's sons, and he who gave name to 
Syria, had four sons, (Gen. x. 23,) of whom Uz or Hur 
was the eldest. The eldest son of Abraham's brother Na- 
hor had the same name, (Gen. xxii. 21,) and both descend- 
ed from Arphaxad. (Gen. xi. 10.) From one of these de- 
scendants of Shem, the land of Job was called Uz, (ch. i. 1 3 ) 
and he is himself described as abounding in that kind of 
wealth which is peculiar to a Bedouin Sheikh. Jeremiah 
speaks of all the kings of Uz, (Jer. xxv. 20,) whence we 
infer that it was an extensive district : while from another 



,, 



48 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

passage it would seem that the Edomites possessed this 
country. (Lam. iv. 21.) 

This country must, however, be distinguished from 
Edom itself, as they are separately mentioned by the same 
prophet. (Jer. xxv. 20, 21.) We may therefore take Uz 
for the northern part of Desert Arabia, between the country 
of Damascus, and the Euphrates. At the same time many 
have maintained that Uz was in Idumea. 

DESCENDANTS OF HAGAR. 

The descendants of Abraham and Hagar, are called some- 
times Hagarites and sometimes Ishmaelites. The former 
of these were near Gilead, (1 Chron. v. 10,) and had war 
with the Reubenites. They are also mentioned in con- 
nexion with the Ishmaelites and Moabites. (Ps. lxxxiii. 7.) 
They seem to have been rich in cattle. (1 Chron. v. 21.) 
There is a region still called by their name, Hadshar or 
Hajar, in the district of Bassora, east of Nadsched and north 
of Oman, celebrated for its asses and camels. 

The Ishmaelites are distinguished from the Hagarites. 
(Ps. lxxxiii. 6.) Ishmael had 12 sons, (Gen. xxv. 12 — 16,) 
and these, or their descendants, spread over that part of 
Arabia which lies between Havilah and Haulan, (S. E. of 
Palestine,) to Shur, near Egypt. Even in Jacob's time 
they traded with Egypt, (Gen. xxxvii. 25, xxxix. 1,) and 
are specified to be descendants of Midian. (Gen. xxxvii. 
28.) In Gideon's time the Ishmaelites and Midianites are 
spoken of as the same people. (Judg. viii. 22, 24, 26.) 

The descendants of the two eldest sons of Ishmael, Ne- 
bajoth and Kedar, (Gen. xxv. 13,) are the Nabatheans 
and Cedrei of the Greeks and Romans. (Isa. Ix. 7.) The 
N abatheans were scattered over all the three Arabias. The 
Kedarites dwelt, like the modern Bedouins, under black 
tents, (Sol. Song i. 5,) which were collected into little vil- 
lages or encampments. (Isa. xlii. 11.) They were rich in 
herds, (Isa. Ix. 7, Jer. xlix. 28, 29,) and were warlike and 
expert archers. (Isa. xxi. 16, 17, Ps. cxx. 7.) It is not said 
where they made their settlement.* 

* In connexion with Kedar, Jeremiah (xlix. 28, 30,33,) speaks of 
the kingdoms cf Hazor. By this name are probably meant those 
Arabs who had Sxed dwellings in the countries traversed by the 
wandering tribes. 



ARABIA. 49 

The next son of Ishmael, of whose posterity we read, is 
the sixth, Duniah. In Isaiah (xxi. 11,) a prophecy is di- 
rected against this people. Tradition informs us that they 
dwelt on the borders of the Syrian desert, near Irak, seven 
days' journey from Damascus. 

Tenia was the ninth son of Ishmael. (Gen. xxv. 15.) This 
name is mentioned by Jeremiah, (xxv. 23,) with Dedan 
and Buz, two other Arab tribes. They are spoken of by 
Isaiah, (xxi. 13,) in connexion with the caravans of Dedan. 

Jetxtr and Naphish, the tenth and eleventh of Ishmael' s 
sons, -were the progenitors of those who fought against the 
Reubenites, (1 Chron. v. 19, 20,) in the time of Saul. We 
suppose that they dwelt near the tribe of Gad. 

' DESCENDANTS OF KETURAH. 

The sons of Abraham and Keturah were Zimram, Jok- 
shan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Midian alone 
seems to have had any distinguished descendants. We 
have already seen that in Jacob's time they had united 
with the Ishmaelites ; (Gen. xxxvii. 25, 27, 28, 36 ;) we 
may add, that they were also nearly allied with the Moab- 
ifes. (Gen. xxxvi. 35, Num. xxii. 3, 4, 7, xxv. 1, 6.) Mi- 
dian is joined with Ephah by Isaiah, (Ix. 6.) Their country 
extended along the east of Palestine in Desert Arabia. 
(See p. 54.) 

Shuah was the youngest son of Keturah. (Gen. xxv. 2.) 
Bildad the Shuhite was probably one of his posterity. 

Jokshan, the second son, was the father of Sheba and 
Dedan. (Gen. xxv. 3.) From Sheba the Saheans are thought 
to have descended. (Job i. 15.) 

Dedan inhabited a part of Idumea, the land of Esau. 
(Jer. xlix. 8. Ezek. xxv. 13.) Another tribe of this name, 
but of different extraction, (Gen. x. 7,) dwelt in Southern 
Arabia, on the Persian Gulf. Among the sons of Dedan 
were the Ashurim, Letushim, and Leummini, (Gen. xxv. 
3,) of whom we. know nothing. 

A3BIONITES. 

The Ammonites were the descendants of Amnion or Ben- 
Animi, who was the son of Lot, and brother of Moab. (Gen^ 
xix. 14, 30 — 38.) They spread themselves over the coun- 
tries east and north-east of the Moabites, who were nearer 
E 



/ 



GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 



to the Dead sea. These countries were, before this, occu- 
pied by various tribes of giants, and the Ammonites subdued 
and supplanted the Zamzummim. (Deut. ii. 21.) Their 
kingdom was at first bounded by the river Jabbok on the 
north ; and separated from Moab on the south by the Ar- 
non. From this land, however, they were subsequently 
driven by the Amorites, and possessed a district more to 
the east. (See p. 51.) 

The country between the rivers was taken from the 
Amorites by the children of Israel, (Num. xxi. 24,) and 
appropriated to the tribes of Gad and Reuben. The Am- 
monites made war against Israel, (Judg. xi. 13,) in the days 
of Jephthah, fok the recovery of this territory. Still later 
they besieged Jabesh-gilead, (1 Sam. xi. 1,) which was de- 
livered by Saul. With David they were upon terms of 
friendship (2 Sam. x. "2,) until their insolence led to their 
overthrow, (xi. 1.) In almost every age of the Hebrew 
commonwealth, there was enmity between the Ammonites 
and the people of Israel ; and against this nation many pro- 
phecies are directed. (2 Chron. xxvii. 5, Amos i. 13, Zeph. 
ii. 9, Jer. xlix. 1 — 5, Ezek. xxi. 28, Neh. iv. 3.) 

Rabbaih was the chief city of the Ammonites, (Deut. iii. 
11,) which is also called Rabbah, (Josh. xiii. 25,) or the 
great. It was taken by David, (2 Sam. xii. 27,) and was 
called by Joab the city of waters from the river which 
passed through it. Jeremiah predicted its ruin, (xlix. 1, 2.) 
By Josephus, the great Jewish Historian, it is called Ra- 
batha, but was also known under the name of Philadelphia. 
It was a great city even at the time of Christ, as appears 
from the ruins which still remain. It is now called Amman, 
and lies upon the stream Mciet-Amman, about 20 miles S. 
east of Szalt. 

Aroer, which must be distinguished from that upon the 
Arnon, (See p. 110,) lay in the midst of the river of Gad, (2 
Sam. xxiv. 5,) that is, the Jabbok, now Wadi Serka, which 
was the dividing stream between Gad and Ammon. 

Abel-keramim. The reader will find this name trans- 
lated the Plain of the vineyards. (Judg. xi. 33.) In the 
second century a place called Abel was still known, about 
six miles from Rabbah. 

Minnith, a place famous for wheat, as was all this land, 
was about four miles from Heshbon on the road to Rabbah* 
(2 Chron. xxvii. 5, Ezek. xxvii. 17.) 



ARABIA. 51 



II. ARABIA PETR^A, OR STONY ARABIA. 

This country well deserves to be so called, on account of 
its numerous rocks; yet the name was, in fact, derived 
from its ancient capital, Petra, (a rock.) A part of Ara- 
bia Petraea, lying upon the Elanitic gulf, was called Naba- 
thea, from a tribe already mentioned, (see p. 48,) who ex- 
tended themselves also in the Desert and the Happy Arabia. 

Arabia Petrsea is encircled by Arabia Deserta, Arabia 
Felix, Palestine, Egypt, and the Arabian gulf, and is the 
north-western division. It will be useful to examine the 
countries included within these limits more minutely. 

1. THE COUNTRY OF THE MOABITES. 

The northern part of Arabia Petraea, was in very early 
times, possessed by the descendants of Moab, the brother 
of Ammon. (Gen. xix. 37.) This tribe spread itself along 
the eastern side of the Dead sea, after expelling the Emim, 
a race of giants, (Deut. ii. 9, 10,) and had the Jabbok for 
their northern boundary. From this region, however, they 
were driven by the Amorites, so that the Arnon became 
their northern limit. (Num. xxi. 13, 36, Judg. xi. 18.) 
The Israelites passed through their land, regardless of the 
hatred of Balak, (Num. xxii. — xxiv.) without dispossess- 
ing the Moabites, who were exceedingly alarmed at this 
unexpected host. (Num. xxii. 3, Deut. i. 5, ii. 18, 29, 
xxix. 1.) After the death of Joshua, the Hebrews were, 
for a time, subject to the king of Moab, (Judg. iii. 12 — 
30.) Saul and David were both engaged in wars against 
this people, (1 Sam. xiv. 47, 2 Sam. viii. 2, 1 Chron. 
xix. 2.) 

The country of the Moabites was fertile and agreeable. 
In times of famine it was the resort of sufferers from Pales- 
tine ; as in the case of Ruth. In wine and grain it was 
abundant, (Isa. xvi. 8, 9, 10,) and its meadows were cover- 
ed with innumerable flocks, (2 Kings iii. 4.) The northern 
part of the land, now called Belka, is the best pasture- 
ground in all Syria. The southern part, or Moab Proper, 
is now called Karak or Kerek, from a city of the same name. 

The Arnon, (now Wadi-mujeb,) is the principal river 
of Moab. (See p. 100.) 



52 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

The Zared or Zered was a stream farther south, flowing 
from mount Abarim. Upon its banks the Israelites once 
encamped. (Num. xxi. 12, Deut. ii. 13.) 

The Nimrim, (Isa. xv. 6,) was probably a stream in the 
northern part of Moab, near to Beth-Nimrah. (See p. 111. 

Mountains are numerous in this land ; but three only are 
named in the Scriptures ; viz. Peor, (Num. xxiii. 28,) in 
the vicinity of Nebo and Pisgah. (See p. 86. Upon this 
we may suppose the idol Baal-Peor, (Num. xxv. 3, 5,) to 
have been worshipped. 

Luhith, (Isa. xv. 5, Jer. xlviii. 5,) an elevation near a 
town of this name, between Areopolis and Zoar. 

Abarim, upon the southern border of Moab, where it 
joins Edora or Idumea, (Num. xxi. 11. xxxiii. 44, 47, 48.) 
The modern mount Dhana is probably a part of Abarim. 

The principal cities of Moab were Ar and Kir-Moab. 

1. Ar was the capital, (Num. xxi. 15, Deut. ii. 18, Isa. 
xv. 1,) and was called also Rabbah, or the great, (Josh. xiii. 
25,) and Rabbatk-Moab, in the same manner as the chief 
town of the Ammonites was called Rabbath-Ammon. (see 
above.) By the Greeks it was named Areopolis, city of 
Mars. Its ruins have been discovered by modern travel- 
lers, and near them two copious fountains. (Num. xxi. 15.) 

2. Kir of Moab, the bulwark or city of Moab, (Isa. xv. 
31,) is also called Kir-hareseth and Kir -her es, (Isa. xvi. 
7, 11, Jer. xlviii. 31,) and was the principal fortress of the 
land. It was destroyed by Joram, king of Israel, but must 
have been rebuilt before these prophecies were pronounced. 
Kerek or Karak is the modern name : and among its ruins 
dwelt, in 1812, about 400 Turks and 150 Christians. 

The prophet Jeremiah mentions a number of Moabitish 
cities and towns, (ch. xlviii.) most of which were taken 
from the tribes of Gad and Reuben. Among these were 
Heshbon ; (see p. 109,) Madmen, which is no where else 
named ; Horonaim, probably upon mount Luhith. (See 
above.) Beth-diblathaim (v. 22,) is the Diblathaim of Moses, 
(Num. xxxiii. 46.) These places, so far as any thing is 
known of them, are described, under the towns of Israel* 



ARABIA. 53 



II. EDOM, OR IDUMEA. 

. Upon the southern borders of Moab, lay the country of 
Edom, called Idumea by the Greeks and Romans. Edom 
was one of the names of Esau, (Gen. xxv. 30,) whose de- 
scendants peopled this region. It is now called Sheraih, 
and extends from the south-east end of the Dead sea towards 
the Elanitic Gulf, which is a branch of the Red sea. It 
was inhabited, prior to this, (Deut. ii. 11, 22,) by the Ho- 
rim, or dwellers in caves, who still continued to the north- 
east districts. (Gen. xxxvi. 20.) Teman a grandson of 
Esau, (Gen. xxxvi. 11,) gave name to a part of the land. 
(Jer. xlix. 7, 20, Ezek. xxv. 13, Obad. 9.) Here dwelt 
Eliphaz the Temanite. (Job ii. 11.) The Edomites were 
perpetual enemies of Israel, (1 Sam. xiv. 47, 2 Sam. viii. 
14, Ps. Ix. 8, 9, 1 Chron. xviii. 12, 13, 1 Kings xi. 15, 16,) 
but were generally kept in subjection ; yet in later times 
we find them extending north-east as far as Hauran, and 
south as far as Dedan in Arabia. (Jer. xlix. 8 — 20, Isa. 
xxxiv. 6, lxiii. 1, Ezek. xxv. 13.) The Scriptures men- 
tion only a few cities of Edom : of those named, Gen. 
xxxvi. 31 — 39, there is very little upon record. 

Sela, (meaning Rock,) was the most noted city of ancient 
Idumea ; it was called Petra by the Greeks. (See p. 51.) 
Its name was changed to Joktheel (2 Kings xiv. 7,) by 
Amaziah. We are told that it was three days' journey 
from Jericho. The village of Wadi-Musa is supposed to 
stand on its ruins, which are in a deep valley, out of which 
rises Mount Hor, the place, it is said, of Aaron's burial. 
(Num. xx. 27, 28, xxxiii. 37, 38.) The high rocks and 
deep defiles of these mountains constituted the great citadel 
of the Edomites, (Obad. 4. Jer. xlix. 10, 18,) and are de- 
scribed as being still wonderfully adapted for desperate de- 
fence. 

Mount Seir is a mountainous tract stretching from the 
southern point of the Dead sea, to the gulf of Acaba or 
Ezion-geber. It is now known at different parts of its 
course by the names of Djibal Shera, Djibal Hesma, and 
El Djibal. The mean height of this range is about 4,000 
feet 

Kadesh, in the desert of Zin, is to be distinguished from 
a place of this name in the desert of Paran. The former 

e2 



54 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

was near to Selah, but its exact position is undetermined, 
(Num. xx. 1, xxxiii. 38.) 

Eiath and Ezion-geber were two noted sea-ports upon 
the Elanitic branch of the Red sea, (Deut. ii. 8,) where 
the modern town of Akaba now stands. We place them 
together, because it is now impossible to discover the dif- 
ferent sites of these sister towns. Here Solomon built the 
ships (1 Kings ix. 26 — 28, x. 21, 22,) which traded with 
Ophir. 

III. THE AMALEKITES. 

The Amalekites, whose land was west of Edorn, are 
mentioned as early as the days of Abram, (Gen. xiv. 7,) 
and are called in the prophecy of Balaam, (Num. xxiv. 
20,) the first of the nations. When Chedorlaomer (Gen* 
xiv.) had conquered the Rephaims and the Horites of Seir 
as far as the desert of Paran, (ver. 6.) he returned to Ka~ 
desh and smote all the country of the Amalekites. Hence 
it appears that they dwelt between Kadesh, Seir, and En- 
gedi, adjacent on the north-west to Philistia, and south to 
Egypt or the desert of Sinai. They were the first enemies 
to oppose Israel on their journey from Egypt, (Ex. xvii. 
8—13,) and after an obstinate continuance of hatred, (Judg. 
iii. 13, vi. 3, 1 Sam. xxvii. 8, 9, 2 Sam. viii. 11, 12,) 
their few remains were destroyed under Hezekiah. (1 
Chron. iv. 43.) 

IV. THE KENITES. 

Are supposed to have dwelt near the Amalekites, in the 
south-western Dart of Arabia Petrsea. 

x • 

V. THE MIDIAN1TES. 

The fourth son of Abraham and Keturah, (Gen. xxv. 2,) 
was Midian. (See p. 49.). There was a land of Midian in 
the neighbourhood of the mountains Sinai and Horeb, (Ex. 
iii. 1. xviii. 5,) where Jethro resided. These people, who 
were friends of Israel, must not be confounded with those 
who were allies of Moab. (Num. xxii. 4, 5.) The latter 
were frequently at war with the Hebrews, and were in a 
signal manner overthrown by Gideon, (Judg. vi. 1 — 6,) so 
that they gave little trouble in subsequent periods. (Judg. 



\ 



x 



ARABIA, 55 

vk 7, vii. viii- See also Psal. Ixxxiii. 9 — 12, Isa. ix. 4. 
x. 26, Hab. iii. 7.) A town called Moilah is still in ex- 
istence, which is probably the Madian of the ancients. 
Midian was celebrated for its camels, (Judg. vii. 12, Isa- 
Ix. 6,) and the descendants of Ephah, eldest son of Midian, 
were rich in camels and dromedaries. (Isa. Ix. 6.) 

VI. THE PENINSULA OF MOUNT SINAI. 

The southern part of Arabia Petraea is a peninsula form- 
ed by two arms of the Red sea, which stretch into the 
land, the one in a north-east, the other in a north-west di- 
rection. The eastern is the Elanitic gulf already men- 
tioned ; the western is called by the ancients the Heroopo- 
litan gulf, and now T the Sea of Suez. This peninsula is 
bounded on the north by the desert of El-Tyh. That part 
of the Arabian gulf which washes its southern coast is call- 
ed, as above, the Red sea. So many contradictory accounts 
are given of the causes which produced this name, that we 
shall leave it undetermined, as a matter of small importance. 
Upon the north of this peninsula is the chain of mountains 
called El-Tyh, of which Sinai and Hor form the southern 
portion. It is this region of country, broken and moun- 
tainous, which is noticed in the Scriptures under the name 
of the Wilderness of Sinai. (Ex. xix. 1. Num. i. 1.) 
North of the mountain Zebeir is a frightful waste, without 
vegetation or water. With justice was this land called 
(Deut. i. 19, viii. 15,) a great and terrible wilderness, (Jer. 
ii. 6,) an uninhabited, dark, and parched land, (Num. xx, 
5,) a place of no seed, or figs, or vines, or pomegranates, or 
water. 

* - • 

MOUNT SINAI. 

This is certainly the most distinguished spot in the pen- 
insula of which we have spoken. We are not to under- 
stand by the name of Sinai, a single hill or peak ; but a 
prodigious mountain pile, which, according to Burckhardt, 
is from 30 to 40 miles in diameter, and comprehends many 
separate peaks, the highest of which is that called Djibel- 
Musa, or the mountain of Moses. On the west of this, but 
of less height, is Mount Catherine, and these two peaks 
form that to which the name Sinai particularly belongs. 



GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

Horeb and Sinai were either the same mountain or different 
parts of the same pile. That which in Exodus, Leviticus, 
and Numbers is called Sinai, (Ex. xix. 20, xxiv. 16. xxxi. 
18, xxxiv. 2, 29, Lev. vii. 39, xxvi. 46, iii. 1,) is in 
Deuteronomy called Horeb. (i. 6, iv. 10, 15, v. 2, xviii. 
16, xxix. 1, Mai. iv. 14.) It is inferred from the ac- 
counts of the latest travellers that the Horeb from which 
a stream of water was miraculously brought, (Ex. xvii.) is 
the mountain now called Serbal, 20 or 30 miles distant from 
Sinai. At the same time it is granted that, when speaking 
in a general way of these mountains, the term Horeb is 
used; while in particular relation of events Horeb and Sinai 
are made distinct : the former lying considerably to the 
west or north-west of the latter. There is a celebrated 
cpnvent upon mount Sinai.* 

JOURNEYINGS OF THE ISRAELITES. 

There is no subject in all sacred Geography which pre- 
sents so many difficulties, as the path of the Israelites on 
their pilgrimage from Egypt to the promised land. To 
detail all that has been written for the purpose of tracing 
this path, would fill volumes, and at the end leave the 
reader undecided as to many points. In a work as concise 
in its plan, and humble in its pretensions as this must be, 
nothing more than a sketch of the general results can be 
demanded. 

1. The children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to 
Succoth. (Num. xxxiii. 5.) Rameses was a city in the 
land of Goshen, about 6 or 8 miles above the modern Cairo* 
Succoth means a place of booths, and was probably a mere 
halting-station for caravans, or travelling-companies, Their 
course was a little northward. 

2. Etham, "in the edge of the wilderness. J? (ver. 6.) 
This was a march of about 60 miles, although the gulf was 
probably nearer to their place of setting out, than at the 
present day, making the journey 40 miles. This is even 
now a wilderness or parched and stony desert. 

3. Pi-hahiroth. From Etham they were commanded to 
return, to a place between Migdal and the sea, opposite to 

* See Mansford, and Rosenraiiller. 



ARABXA, 57 

Baal-Zephon. (Ex. xiv. 9, Num. xxxiii. 7.) This was a 
narrow pass, shut in by the sea on the east ; mountains on 
the west ; and a small bay on the south. 

4. Passage through the Red sea. (Ex. xiv. 22.) The 
precise place where this astonishing miracle was wrought, 
is fixed by Dr. Mansford about 20 miles below Suez, oppo- 
site the valley of Bedea: where the channel was Suffi- 
ciently broad and deep to make the miracle worthy of its 
Author and its object ; the gulf being three leagues over, 
with water 14 fathoms deep. The north cape of this bay 
is still called Ras-Musa — the cape of Moses. They made 
three day's journey in the desert of Etham, still a sandy 
and gravelly plain, called El-Ahta. 

5. Marah. (Ex. xv. 23. Num. xxxiii. 9.) The bitter 
well of Howara is thought to be the spot. It should be ob- 
served that the Israelites were now going southward, keep- 
ing near to the coast of the Red sea. 

6.. Elim; where were twelve wells, and seventy palm- 
trees. (Num. xxxiii. 9.) This is placed in the vale of Gha- 
randel ; here there is a copious spring, with palm or date 
trees. 

7. After coming still nearer to the sea, (ver. 10,) they 
again receded from it, going into the heart of the desert, 
which brought them to— 

8. The wilderness of Sin, (ver. 11,) at the foot of the 
mountainous ridge El-Tyh. (See p. 55.) 

9. 10. Dophkah and Alush ; (ver. 12, 13 ;) of these 
places nothing is known. 

11. R,ephidim, on the edge of the desert of Sinai, (ver. 
14.) 

12. Desert of Sinai, (ver. 15. See Mount Sinai.) Leav- 
ing this, (Num. x. 12,) they came to the desert of Paran, 
in which extensive waste they had various encampments j 
as at — 

13. Taberah, or Kibroth-hattaavah, the graves of lust, 
(Num. xi. 31 — 34.) From this place the stations north- 
ward are — 

14. Hazeroth. (Num. xi. 35.) 

15. Rithmah. (xxxiii. 18.) 

16. Rimmon Perez, (ver. 19.) 

17. Libnah. (ver. 20.) 

18. Rissah, 19, Kehelathah, 20, Shepher, 21, Hara- 
dah, 22, Makheloth, 23, Tahath, 24, Tarah, 25, Mithcah, 



58 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

26, Mashmonah, 27, Moseroth, 28, Bene-jaakan, 29, Hor- 
hagidgad, 30, Jotbathah, 31, Ebronah, 32, Ezion-gaber, 
(Num. xiv. 25, xxxiii. 22 — 35.) In all this course they 
were retracing their steps ; having gone northward from 
Mount Sinai to Rissah, thence southward to Ezion-gaber. 
To fix the exact situation of any of these places would be 
vainly attempted. 

33. The desert of Zin. This is a valley stretching along 
the whole western side of Mount Seir; which, like it, ex- 
tends from the Dead sea on the north, to the Red sea on 
the south. It is about five miles across, and is now called 
El-Ghor. Into this valley the people came from the plain 
of Elath and Ezion-gaber. (Num. xii. 16, xx. 1, 14, 
xiii. 4.) 

34. Mount Hor. (Num. xxxiii, 37.) Leaving Kadesh 
in the wilderness of Zin, they came to Mount Hor, M in 
the edge of Edom;" a mountain on the eastern side of the 
desert of Zin, and standing on the western edge of Seir. 
Here Aaron was buried. (Num. xx. 22 — 28.) 

35. 36, 37, 38, Zalmonah, Punon, Oboth, Ije-abarim. 

39. Zared; (now the Wady Ben Hammed.) From 
the Zared they marched to Dibon-gad. 

40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, Beer, Almon-diblathaim, Mat- 
tanah, Nahaliel, Bamoth, Pisgah — which last is the part 
of Mount Abarim, at which they crossed. (See p. 86. 

The reader who would attain to any distinct notion of 
this journey must be provided with a correct map, upon 
which the track is marked. In the sketch above, we have 
borrowed almost entirely from Mansford's Scripture Gazet- 
teer, in which the discussions relative to this journey may- 
be found. 

III. ARABIA FELIX, OR YEMEN. 

The southern part of Arabia, or the peninsula between 
the Persian Gulf and the Red sea, was called by the an- 
cients Arabia the Happy, because of its superior fertility, 
its fragrant spices, or from the mere national partiality of its 
inhabitants. Its name at the present day is Yemen. 

The face of the country and its qualities vary in different 
parts. Upon the coast the land is mostly flat, sandy, un- 
productive, and exposed to drought and excessive heat. 



ARABIA. 59 

The interior of the country is hilly, barren it is true in 
some districts, while in many others are found fertile 
heights, good water, healthful air, delightful landscapes, 
and abundance of the fruits of the earth. Here are pro- 
duced the sugar-cane, rice, wheat, barley, lemons, oranges, 
citrons, pomegranates, figs, and sweet grapes. Frankin- 
cense, myrrh, and cassia were brought from Arabia Felix 
in the earliest times. Coffee is abundant, but has been 
used as a refreshing beverage only since the fifteenth cen- 
tury. 

The southern part of Arabia was known among the Is- 
raelites by the name of Ethiopia, (Cush,) a term which 
had the same extent of meaning as India has among the 
moderns. We are so much accustomed to think of Ethio- 
pia as a country of Africa, that we are liable to fall into 
mistakes in reading the Scriptures. The Ethiopian woman 
whom Moses married, (Num. xii.l,) can scarcely be con- 
sidered as an African, but was probably a South-Arabian. 
WhenHabakkuk (iii. 7,) speaks of the affliction of Cus'han 
and Midian, we are to understand it of the same people. 
In one place, (2 Chron. xxi. 16,) the Arabians who dwelt 
near the Ethiopians, are mentioned ; from which we infer 
that the southern inhabitants of. this peninsula were called 
Ethiopians.. 

Southern Arabia was peopled by the descendants both 
©f Ham and Shem. 

The children of Ham. — Cush the eldest son of Ham, 
(Gen. x. 7,) had five sons, Seba, Haviiah, Sabtah, Raa- 
mah, and Sabtecha. The posterity of these appear to have 
spread themselves over the southern part of Arabia, and 
the country on the opposite side of the Red sea. Seba 
must be sought in African Ethiopia. Haviiah probably 
gave name to Haitian a part of Arabia Felix. Sabtah is 
found in the name Sabatha or Sabotha, a sea-port upon the 
Red sea. Raamah is mentioned (Ezek. xxvii. 22,) among 
the places which traded with Tyre. 

Sheba and Dedan were sons of Raamah ; from them de- 
scended the people mentioned, Ezek. xxxviii. 13, living 
near the Persian Gulf. We know from history that there 
was a country here called Daden. 

Sabtecha, the fifth son of Cush is supposed to have set- 
tled in Caramania or Kerman. We need scarcely add that 
we know almost nothing of these tribes. 



GEOGRAPHY OF THE EIELE. 

Hie children of Shem who dwelt in southern Arabia, de- 
scended from Joklan, the second son of Shem's grandson 
Eber, (Gen. x. 25, 26.) Joktan had no less than thirteen 
sons, whose dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest unto 
Sephar a mount of the east, (ver. 30.) Mesha is taken by- 
geographers to be the country which the Greeks called 
Mesene, near the modern Bassora. Sephar means the sea- 
coast, and is supposed to lie near the Red sea, somewhere 
about the modern Tehamah. It will not be expected that 
after so many ages we can discover the abodes of these sons 
of Joktan ; some imperfect hints may be derived from simi- 
larity of names, and we shall add all that seems worthy of 
recollection. 

1. Sheleph. (Gen. x. 26.) From him came the Sala- 
peni, a nation in the interior of Arabia Felix. 

2. Hazarmaveth. Hence the modern Hadramaut, bound- 
ed west by Yemen ; south-east by the ocean ; north-east 
by Oman ; and north by a great desert. 

3. Uzal, the sixth son of Joktan, (ver. 27,) is by the 
whole of the Arabs said to have founded the city of Sanaa 
in Yemen, which bore his name as late as the 6th century. 
Sanaa is the chief town of Yemen. 240 miles N. N. E. of 
Mocha, and 450 S. E. of Mecca. Lat. 17° 28' N. 

4. Sheba, the tenth son of Joktan, (ver. 28,) must be 
distinguished from a son of Raamah, already mentioned, 
who bore this name, (ver. 7,) as well as from Sheba the 
grandson of Abraham. (Gen. xxv. 3.) The Sheba of whom 
now we speak is supposed to be the father of the Sabeans. 
A certain queen of Sheba or Sabo, attracted by the celebrity 
of Solomon's wisdom and power, was led to visit this mon- 
arch. (1 Kings x. 1, 4, 10, 2 Chron. ix. !,) and made him 
presents of gems, gold, and costly spices. — articles for which 
the Sabeans were famous among the Greeks. The fabu- 
lous accounts of the Arabians pretend that the name of this 
queen was Balkis, and a palace is now shown in Djof, a 
province of Yemen, which is called the palace of Balkis* 
There is reason to believe this was the country of Sheba. 

5. Ophir was the place whence the ships of Solomon 
brought gold and spices and precious stones to Elath and 
Ezion-geber. (1 Kings ix. 28, x. II, 2 Chron. viii. IS, 
ix. 10.) The gold of Ophir is frequently noticed in the 
Scriptures. (Job xxviii. 16, Ps. xlv. 9, Isa. xiii. 12, 
I Chron. xxix. 4, Job xxii. 24.) But where was Ophir ? 



EGYPT. 61 

" Not fewer than fifteen or sixteen countries," says Mr. 
Home, " have been assigned by various commentators and 
critics, as the site of Ophir." Among these, the only three 
which seem worthy of attention are India, Zanguebar on 
the African coast, and Southern Arabia, The reader, after 
investigating this perplexed subject, may form his own de- 
cision ; that which seems least encumbered with difficulties, 
is that it was in Arabia. It is scarcely probable that as 
early as the days of Job (xxii. 24,) there should have been 
any commerce with Zanguebar or India. The name of 
Ophir is mentioned in connexion with those which un- 
doubtedly belong to southern Arabia, (Gen. x. 29,) and es- 
pecially with Sheba. From all the older Greek writers, 
we find that gold was found in Arabia ; and indeed it is 
by no means necessary to suppose that the wares which 
were shipped at Ophir, w r ere the productions of that coun- 
try alone. 

Of the other sons of Joktan, we can find nothing suffi- 
ciently definite to be deserving of notice. 

The Arabic language is derived from that widely ex- 
tended tongue which was used by the descendants of Shem, 
and closely resembles the Hebrew, Chaldee, and Syriac. 
It has been a spoken language for many centuries, with 
little change, in comparison with the alterations of Euro- 
pean dialects. 

The country lying upon the river Nile, from the middle 
of its course to its mouth, in the north of Africa is known 
by the name of Egypt. The word used in the Old Testa- 
ment, and which is translated Egypt, is Mizrabn, (Gen. x. 
6.) after the second son of Ham. (Isa. xix.) The ancient 
name of the land was Ham. (Ps. lxxviii. 51. cv. 23, 27, 
cvi. 22.) In the poetical parts of the Bible it is sometimes 
called Rahab. (Isa. li. 9, Ps. lxxxvii. 4, lxxxix. 10.) The 
modern Arabic name Miser is evidently an abbreviation of 
the Hebrew Mizraim. 

Extent and boundaries. Egypt may be viewed as the 
great valley of the Nile, lying nearly north and south, and 
hemmed in on the east and west by chains of mountains, 
F 



62 GEOGRAPHY OF TKE BIBLE. 

which are sometimes near the river, and sometimes 
distant. This valley, however, does not reach as far as 
the Mediterranean, but ends where the river is divided 
into several branches, which embrace the Delta, the most 
fertile part of Lower Egypt. These branches shoot out 
north-east and north-west, and the country included forms 
a triangle, whence it was called the Delta from the Greek 
letter which has that shape. The northern and southern 
limits of Egypt are given by the prophet Ezekiel, (ch. 
xxix. 10, xxx. 6,) — from the tower of Syene even to the border 
of Cushj or as it may be read, from Migdol (tower,) to 
Syene ; meaning in either case, the whole length of the 
country. Syene is in latitude 24° 0' 45", and Alexandria 
31° 11' 33", making the length 500 miles. On account 
of the windings of the Nile, the valley is 600 miles long. 
To the east of the Delta, on the borders of Palestine and 
Arabia Petrsea, is the Desert of Shur, (Gen. xvi. 7, xx. 1. 
xxv. 18, Ex. xv. 22,) now called Djofar. 

The country about the cataracts of the Nile, (Syene) on 
the south of Egypt, has a picturesque appearance ; but Lower 
Egypt, especially the Delta, is flat and uninteresting. The 
skies present always the same cloudless and unvarying ap- 
pearance. 

The Nile is the only river of Egypt, and was called by 
way of pre-eminence, The River. (Gen. xli. 1.) It is some- 
times called Sihor or Shihor. (Isa. xxiii. 3, 1 Chron. xiii. 
5.) The true source of the Nile has been made the sub- 
ject of so much dispute, that it will be enough to say, that 
its principal tributary is the Abiad or White river, which 
rises near the equator, in the mountains of the moon, and 
falls into the Nile about the 16th degree of north latitude. 
According to Bruce, the real springs of the Nile are in Sa- 
calo, a province of Abyssinia. This great river flows 1200 
miles without the addition of a single stream. 

The Egyptians might justly prize such a river, upon 
which their very existence was made to depend ; for in 
this land where rain is almost unknown, the overflowing 
of the Nile is absolutely necessary to all vegetation. Its 
water, after being filtered, is acknowledged by all travellers, 
ancient and modern, to be peculiarly sweet and even de- 
licious. (Jer. ii. 18.) We may from these circumstances 
form some idea of the nature of that afflictive judgment by 
which the waters were turned into blood. (Ex. vii. 17.) 



EGYPT* 63 

In the beginning of June the Nile begins to rise in its 
southern parts, and continues to become higher, without 
overflowing its banks until the end of July ; but from the 
beginning of August until the end of September the whole 
land is generally under water. From the middle of August 
until the end of October, the valley may be said to resemble 
a sea. (Amos viii. 8, ix. 5.) The rich earth and vegetable 
remains which are thus spread over the surface of the 
ground, when the inundation ceases, added to the refresh- 
ing moisture which continues, fertilize the soil in a manner 
which no artificial means could imitate. By canals and 
trenches and other means, the whole adjacent regions re- 
ceive the benefit of these floods. The water was in cer- 
tain cases directed in some unknown way by the foot of 
the husbandman. (Deut. xi. 10.) The history of Egypt 
abounds with records of distress and famine, caused by the 
failure of this inundation ; and the prophets denounced this 
as a punishment upon that wicked nation. (Isa. xix. 56, 
Ezek. xxx. 12.) 

The climate and fertility of Egypt demand some consi- 
deration. In a country so extended, variety of temperature 
must be expected. In Upper Egypt the heat is often as great 
as it is under the equator. In Lower Egypt the climate is 
more temperate. Throughout the year the nightly dew is so 
heavy, as to resemble gentle rain. In summer many dis- 
eases prevail ; and of old there were some of a dreadful 
nature, peculiar to this land. (Deut. xxviii. 27.) The fer- 
tility of Egypt was celebrated among ancient nations, and 
at the present day, there is no country more amply sup- 
plied with grain, fruits, and garden-plants. In Lower 
Egypt are oranges, lemons, figs, dates, almonds, and plan- 
tains in great plenty. Flax continues to be cultivated. 
(Ex. ix. 31.) Egyptian cotton is well known in the com- 
mercial world. Maize or Indian corn, melons of various 
sorts, and grapes are also abundant. 

GEOGRAPHICAL DIVISIONS. 

At a very early period Egypt was divided, either into 
two, or three parts ; viz. into Upper and Lower Egypt, or 
Upper Egypt, (Thebais,) and Middle Egypt, (Heptanomis, 
Heptapolis,) and Lower Egypt, including the Delta and ad- 
joining provinces. We shall speak of three divisions, be- 
ginning at the north, 



64 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE 



I. LOWER EGYPT. 

(I.) THE EASTERN PART OF LOWER EGYPT, AS FAR AS 

THE DELTA. 

1. The desert of Shur. This barren and sandy tract lay 
upon the south-west of Palestine, between the Mediterra- 
nean and the Red sea, as far as Pelusium, and is called by 
the Arabs El-Djefar. To this region Hagar attempted to fly, 
(Gen. xvi. 7.) Etham, ^Mum. xxxiii. 8,) was probably the 
southern part of this desert. It is frequently noticed in the 
Bible. (Gen. xx. 1, xxv. 18, 1 Sarn. xv. 7, xxvii. 8.) 

2. Sin is called the strength of Egypt, Ezek. xxx. 15, 
16. This place was the Pelusium of the Greeks, and the 
Farama of the moderns. It was the bulwark of Egypt 
upon the east. Its ruins were discovered by the French, 
when they invaded Egypt under Napoleon. 

3. Goshen was the district which Joseph allotted to his 
father and his brethren ; (Gen. xlv. 10, xlvi. 28, 29, 34, 
xlvii. 1, 4, 27, 1. 8 ;) and was situated, as nearly as we can 
learn, north of Pelusium, south-west of the desert ofShur, 
and on the east of the most easterly branch of the Nile. It 
was a district of the land of Rameses, (Gen. xlvii. 11,) 
which was in the north-eastern part of Egypt. Although 
this was beyond the reach of the Nile, yet it was for the 
purposes of shepherds, who wandered with their flocks, the 
best of the land. (Gen. xlvii. 6, 11.) 

4. Raamses and Pithom, were the treasure-cities, (Ex. 
i. 11,) built by the Israelites during their slavery. Of these 
there are no remains, and no credible history. 

5. Phibeseth is named by the prophet Ezekiel, (xxx. 17,) 
among the cities which should be destroyed by Babylon. 
It is the same with the Bubastis of the Greeks, one of the 
most celebrated of African cities. The French travellers 
have described its ruins as vast and splendid. 

6. On. This name signified in the language of Egypt 
Light, and the Sun, and it was called by the Greeks Hell- 



EGYPT. 65 

opolis, City of the Sun, and by the Hebrews Beth-Shemesh, 
a word of the same meaning. It was east of the Nile, 
about five miles from the modern Cairo. (Jer. xliii. 13.) 
The father-in-law of Joseph, was a priest of On, (Gen. xli. 
45,) that is, doubtless, a priest of the Sun. The city is now 
destroyed, according to the prophecy above-cited, yet some 
of its obelisks and columns are preserved at Rome. 

(II.) THE DELTA. 

1. Tahaphanes or Tehaphnehes, (Jer. ii. 16, xliii. 7 — 9, 
xliv. 1, xlvi. 14, Ezek. xxx. 18,) called also Tahpanhes, is 
the city which the Greeks knew by the name of Daphne. 
Its situation was near Sin or Pelusium. To this place the 
Jews resorted after the destruction of Jerusalem by the 
Chaldeans, taking with them the prophet Jeremiah. (Jer. 
xliii. 7 — 9, xliv. 1.) Here the king of Egypt had a palace; 
(ver. 9;) and the place seems to have been distinguished. 
(Ezek. xxx. 18.) 

2. Zoan. One of the oldest cities in the world, (Num. 
xiii. 22,) having been built only seven years later than 
Hebron. The name in Greek was Tanis, and it stood 
upon the eastern side of the Tanitic arm of the Nile. It 
was long the residence of a line of kings. (Isa. xix. 1 1 — 13. 
xxx. 4.) Indeed it seems to have been the place where 
Moses wrought miracles in the presence of Pharaoh. (Ps. 
Ixxviii. 12, 43.) The ruins of Zoan, are called San by the 
Arabs. Many columns and obelisks, covered with hiero- 
glyphics are still visible. 

(HI.) LOWER EGYPT WEST OF THE DELTA. 

The western arm of the Nile was called Lybia and sepa- 
rated the country of the same name from Egypt. Of its 
numerous cities, the ruins of which may still be seen, the 
only one mentioned in the Bible is — 

Alexandria. This place is famous in profane history, but 
is merely named, in passing, by the evangelist Luke. 
Among the opposers of the martyr Stephen, (Acts vi. 9,) 
some were Alexandrians. Apollos, was a Jew of Alexan- 
dria, (xviii. 24,) and it was in a ship of Alexandria (xxvii. 
6,) that the apostle Paul sailed from Asia Minor to Italy* 
f 2 



66 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

This city was founded by Alexander the Great, about 333 
years before the birth of Christ, upon a small strip of land, 
between the sea of Mareotis and the Mediterranean. It 
was long the regal capital of the Ptolemies, and was cele- 
brated as well for its learning as its commerce. Further 
details would serve no useful purpose in the interpretation 
of the Scriptures. It is 125 miles north-west of Cairo, and 
" is reckoned to have about 14,000 or 15,000 inhabitants."* 

II. MIDDLE EGYPT, (now WOSTANI.) 

1. Memphis, called also Noph, (Ezek. xxx. 13, 16,) stood 
about 15 miles above the site of Old Cairo, upon the Nile. 
It was built in the early ages of Egypt, and was the me- 
tropolis of Middle Egypt. According to ancient historians 
it was 150 furlongs in circumference, yet fell beneath the 
judgments of the Almighty, (Isa. xix. 13, Jer. ii. 16,) and 
is now a pile of ruins. Lat. 30° 18' north. 

% Hanes. The prophet Isaiah laments in a certain 
place (xxx. 4,) that Jewish ambassadors had gone to Hanes ; 
from which we infer that this was one of the seats of go- 
vernment in those days. It is supposed to be the Great 
Herakleopolis of the Greeks. This city was south of Mem- 
phis, upon an island in the Nile. A few of its remains 
exist at present. 

III. UPPER EGYPT. 

The southern division of Egypt was called by the He- 
brews Pathros, by the Greeks and Romans Thebais, and by 
the Arabs Said. In the genealogy of the nations (Gen. x. 
14,) the Pathrusim are stated to be descendants of Mizraim. 
Isaiah and Jeremiah distinguish this from Egypt Proper ; 
(Isa. xi. 11 ;) so did also the Greeks and Romans. Judg- 
ments are pronounced against it by Ezekiel, (xxx. 14.) 
In the Scriptures, two places of Upper Egypt are men- 
tioned : viz. 

1. No, or Amon-no, is supposed to be the celebrated city 
of Thebes. The Egyptians considered this as the oldest 



* 



Darby 



EGYPT. 67 

city upon earth. It was originally built upon the eastern 
bank of the JN ile, but in later times extended itself on the 
western. To this the prophet Nahurn makes a striking 
allusion, (ch. iii. 8.) It was likewise probably begirt with 
many canals. Thebes was the capital of Upper Egypt, and 
was styled the city of a hundred gates. For a minute ac- 
count of its ruins, see the journal of the Rev. Mr. Jowett, 
Feb. 1819. 

2. Syene has already been named as the southern bound-* 
ary of Egypt. (Ezek. xxix. 10, xxx. 6.) It was built upon 
a peninsula of the Nile, about the spot where the modern 
Aswan stands. (See p. 62. 

The history of Egypt is so intimately connected with 
that of the Hebrews, that a few words upon this stfbject 
will not be misplaced. After being founded, as has been 
already stated, by Mizraim, Egypt was governed by its 
own princes for about a hundred years, when it was con- 
quered by the Shepherds, or Cushites, from Arabia or Chal- 
dea, and who, after remaining in power about 260 years, 
were driven out by Amosis. The Pharaoh whose name 
occurs in the history of Abraham was probably one of these 
Shepherd kings. Joseph was brought as a slave into Egypt 
only a few years after the expulsion of this race. The 
kings of Egypt were all known by the name of Pharaoh, 
but we are not able to give the additional name of the mo- 
narch who was destroyed in the Red sea. His successor 
is thought to have been the famous Sesostris. Solomon 
married the daughter of one of the Pharaohs. During the 
reign of Rehoboam, Palestine was invaded by Shishak, 
king of Egypt, who took Jerusalem and despoiled the tem- 
ple. (2 Chron. xii.) In the time of Hezekiah, Sebachon, 
or So, king of Ethiopia, extended his dominion over Egypt, 
and afterwards became an ally of Hoshea, king of Israel. 
(2 Kings xvii. 4.) Sennacherib invaded Egypt during the 
reign of Sevechus, the son of So. Psammetichus was the 
next king, after an inter-regnum of a few years, and was 
succeeded by Nechus, or Pharaoh-Necho, who invaded 
Assyria, took captive to Egypt Jehoahaz king of Judah, 
and laid a tribute upon the Jews. (2 Kings xxiii. 2 Chron. 
xxxv.) Not many years after Egypt was subdued by Ne- 



68 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE, 

buchadnezzar ; and "the king of Egypt came not any more 
out of his own land." (2 Kings xxiv. 7.) About 536 years 
before Christ, Cyrus, having taken Babylon, conducted his 
army into Egypt, but the total overthrow of its power and 
independence was accomplished by his son Cambyses, 
525 years before Christ, according to the numerous pro- 
phecies against this wicked kingdom. (Jer. xliv. 30. xlvi. 
25, 26, Ezek. xxix. xxx. 13 — 15, Isa. xix.) Egypt was 
now a Persian province, but was with great difficulty kept 
in subjection. Alexander the Great (332 B. C.) became 
the ruler of Egypt, being received rather as a deliverer, 
than a conqueror. After Alexander's death the kings of 
Egypt were the celebrated Ptolemies, who reigned in suc- 
cession until about thirty years before the nativity of Christ, 
at which time Egypt became a Roman province. 

The Pyramids of Egypt are not mentioned in the Bible, 
which could scarcely be the case if, as some imagine, they 
were erected by the children of Israel. 

The language of ancient Egypt was essentially different 
from all those spoken in Asia, as is evident from the re- 
mains of it in the Coptic. The latter has been a dead 
language since the eighth century, and the Copts of modern 
Egypt speak the Arabic. There are, however, some Cop- 
tic works in existence ; and among the rest, translations of 
the Bible. 



© 



The Ethiopians of Arabia have been already mentioned ; 
we come now to speak of Ethiopia Proper, a country south 
of Egypt, extending further southward to unknown limits. 
It joined Egypt somewhere about the smaller cataract of 
the Nile, and was bounded on the east by the Red sea and 
Indian ocean, and on the west by Lybia and regions un- 
known. It may be said to have embraced what are now 
called Nubia and Abyssinia. It was a mountainous and 
well-watered country ; hence we read of the rivers of Ethi- 
opia. (Zephan. iii. 10, Isa. xviii. 2.) The river Astaboras, 
or Atabara was thought by Bruce one of the most beautiful 
rivers of the earth. The banks of the Nile abound with 



NORTH AFRICA. 69 

the papyrus or reed of which paper was first made ; these 
are the bulrushes mentioned, Isa. xviii. 2, and are still in 
use for the purpose of making boats or rafts. 

The northern part of Ethiopia or Nubia is a sort of island 
formed by the Nile and the rivers Astabus and Astaboras. 
This was called by the Hebrews Seba, (Isa. xliii. 3,) and 
by the Romans Meroe. The eldest son of Cush, (Gen. x. 
7,) was Seba, which name was given to this land, a rich 
and commercial country. (Ps. lxxii. 10.) The inhabitants 
are said by Isaiah (xlv. 14,) to be men of stature ; and this 
agrees exactly with the words of the oldest Greek histo- 
rian — "they are said to be the tallest of men."* 

Chub was the name of a nation, noticed by the prophet 
Ezekiel, (xxx. 5,) among other African tribes. They are 
generally said to have dwelt in Nubia. 

The Sukkiims, (2 Chron. xii. 3,) who accompanied Shi- 
shak in his invasion of Judea, were probably a tribe of 
Ethiopians, from the western coast of the Red sea. 

The Ethiopian queen, Candace, whose treasurer (Acts 
viii. 27,) was baptized by Philip, was a princess of Meroe, 
where women held the sovereign power. " The spies of 
Nero," says a Roman historian, " brought intelligence that 
a female reigned in Meroe, whose name was Candace, 
which name has been common to their queens for many 
years."! 

The Ethiopic language is a dialect of the Arabic. 
Of the history of Ethiopia, as distinct from that of Egypt, 
very little is known, and nothing which has any important 
connexion with the people of Israel. 

NORTH AFRICA. 

It is not unreasonable to suppose that some of the de- 
scendants of Mizraim mentioned in the genealogical list, 
(Gen. x. 13, 14,) were the origin of those nations who 
dwelt in northern Africa, west of Egypt. This opinion is 
rendered more probable by the remarkable co-incidence of 
names. 

* Herodotus, B. iii. eh, 20. t Pliny, Nat. Hist. B. v. eh. 29. 



70 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

1. The Lehabim, whom we take to be the same with 
the Lubim. (Nah. iii. 9, 2 Chron. xii. 3, xvi. 8, Dan. xi. 
43.) From the very name we are led at once to think of 
the Lybians, especially as they are constantly named in con- 
nexion with the Egyptians. The Greeks and Romans 
called all the coast Lybia, which lay between Egypt and 
Carthage. 

2. The Ludim or Lydians, are spoken of by Isaiah, 
(Ixvi. 19,) as good archers ; and by Jeremiah and Ezekiel 
as allies of Tyre and Egypt (Jer. xlvi. 9, Ezek. xxvii. 10, 
xxx. 5.) They must be distinguished from the Lydians 
of Asia, who descended from Shem. (See p. 32.) All at- 
tempts to fix the exact place of their dwelling are fruitless. 

3. The Casluhim are almost universally granted to be 
the Colchians, who emigrated from Africa to the coast of 
the Black sea. 

4. Put or Phut was the third son of Ham. (Gen. x. 6.) 
Cush and Phut are almost always connected, and although 
called Lybians in our translation, the Hebrew names are 
distinct. (Jer. xlvi. 9, Ezek. xxx. 5, xxxviii. 5, Nah. iii. 
9.) By this name were called the people since known as 
Mauritanians or Moors. They were hireling soldiers of 
the Egyptians and Tyrians, (Jer. xlvi. 9, Ezek. xxvii. 10, 
xxxviii. 5,) and proved themselves to be genuine warriors 
in many engagements with the Romans and Carthaginians. 

5. Pul (Isa. Ixvi. 19,) is considered to be the island Phi- 
lae, in the Nile, between Egypt and Ethiopia. 

6. Cyrene is the name of a country, as well as of its 
chief city. It was called likewise Cyrenaica and Pentapo- 
lis, and the capital was situated in a fertile region about 
500 miles west of Alexandria. Great numbers of Jews re- 
sided here. A certain Simon, a Jew of Cyrene, was the 
person who bore our Saviour's cross to the place of his 
death. (Matt, xxvii. 32, Mark xv. 21, Luke xxiii. 26.) 
Some of the Cyrenians are mentioned, (Acts xi. 20,) among 
the earliest Christians. Lucius of Cyrene (xiii. 1,) appears 
as a preacher at Antioch. This country now belongs to 
Tripoli. 



(71) 



COUNTRIES WEST OF PALESTINE. 

We read in the Bible of the islands of the sea, and the 
isles that are in the sea. (Isa. xi. 11, xxiv. 15, Ezek. xxvi. 
18.) By these terms we are to understand, not islands only, 
but all places which were reached by sea, (Ezek. xxvii. 3, 
Esth. x. 1, Isa. xx. 6,) and especially the regions west of 
Palestine, whether islands or not. These countries they 
called, in a general way, The West; for thus the word Sea in 
the verses cited above may be understood ; as it is known 
that the Hebrews had the same word for the sea and the 
west, on account of their position with respect to the Me- 
diterranean. 

I. ISLANDS OF THE EGEAN SEA. 

1. Samothracia, (now Samandrachi,) is a small island of 
the Archipelago, near the coast of Romania, and north of 
the isle of Imbro. It is 17 miles in circumference. The 
apostle Paul passed it on his way from Troas to Macedonia. 
(Acts xvi. 11.) It is now chiefly inhabited by fishermen. 

2. Lesbos, now Mitylene ; from its ancient capital of that 
name which was visited by the apostle Paul on his way 
from Ephesus to Macedonia. (Acts xx. 14.) Some remains 
of the old city are found near Castro the principal place. 
Population : from 2,000 to 3,000 Greeks, 4,000 Turks and 
some Jews. 

3. Chios, now called Scio, is also mentioned in the apos- 
tle's voyage, (Acts xx. 15.) It is a mountainous island about 
32 miles long, and 15 broad, situated north-west of Samos. 
The chief production of the island is the mastich. Scio 
was a few years ago supposed to contain 110,000 inhabit- 
ants, but in 1822 the Turks massacred, or led into slavery 
at least 30,000 persons. 

4. Samos, the native place of Pythogoras, is on the coast 
of Natolia, 32 miles long and 22 broad. The inhabitants, 
who are mostly Greeks, amount to 12,000. It was visited 
by the apostle Paul. (Acts xx. 15.) 



72 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

5. Patmos (now Patimo or Patmosa,) is a small island 
between Sanios and Naxos, 20 miles in circumference. The 
Romans used this barren spot as a place of exile for con- 
victs ; and here the apostle John was sent, on account of his 
testimony to the truth ; and here he wrote the Apocalypse, or 
Revelation, (ch. i. 9.) A cavern is still shown to travellers, 
which is said to have been the retreat of the apostle. 

6. Coos or Cos, (now Stanchio,) lies 12 miles north-east 
of Stampalio, and 40 north-west of Rhodes ; is 23 miles 
long and ten broad. This was the native place of Hippo- 
crates the Physician, and Apelles the Painter. The apos- 
tle Paul came to Coos on his way from Asia Minor to Je- 
rusalem. (Acts xxi. 1.) 

8. Rhodes is 40 miles long, and 15 broad, and is situated 
at the south-western point of Asia Minor, at the entrance 
of the Gulf of Macri. It is supposed to have derived its 
name from the Rhodanim or Dodanim, (Gen. x. 4,) de- 
scendants of Japheth. The apostle Paul touched at this 
island, (Acts xxi. 1,) on his way from Miletus to Jerusalem. 
The Greek population of Rhodes is about 18,000. The 
number of Jews is about 1000. 

9. Cyprus is a large island of the Mediterranean, about 
200 mfles in length, and 60 at its greatest breadth. This 
is by many scholars supposed to be the Chittirn or Kitthn of 
the Bible. (Dan. xi. 30.) It was probably first peopled by 
these descendants of Javan, (Gen. x. 4,) but we cannot with 
propriety restrict this word to a single island. " The land 
of Chittirn, and the isles of Chittirn denote, in general, the 
maritime countries and islands of the Mediterranean, 
Greece, Italy, Crete, Cyprus, Corsica, &c. Thus Balaam 
foretold, (Num. xxiv. 24,) that ' ships should come from 
the coast of Chittirn, and should afflict Asshur, (the Assyri- 
ans,) and afflict Eber; 5 (the Hebrews;) representing the 
Grecian and Roman invasions."* 

Cyprus is a rich and fertile island, long celebrated for its 
wines. In the Acts of the Apostles, (iv. 36,) we read of a 
certain Joses, a native of Cyprus, who devoted all his pro- 
perty to the cause of Christ, and was afterwards known by 

* Home's Introduction, Vol. iii. p. 524. — Littell's edit. 



COUNTRIES WEST OF PALESTINE. 73 

the name of Barnabas. The persecuted Christians, (xi. 19,) 
resorted to this island, and Paul and Barnabas landed here, 
after sailing from Seleucia. (Acts xiii. 4.) 

Salamis, on the eastern coast, was the principal city. No 
remains of this are now visible. 

Paphos, a city on the south-western coast, also visited 
by these early missionaries, (xiii. 6,) is now called Pafo or 
Baffa. 

Cyprus has been, since the commencement of the Greek 
revolution, the scene of innumerable barbarities ; 25,000 
Greeks were massacred in Paphos and adjacent towns. Se- 
venty-four villages, containing 18,000 Christians have been 
destroyed by the Turks. 

10. Crete or Candia is a large island to the south of the 
Archipelago, 200 miles in length and 50 in breadth, and 
500 miles south-west of Constantinople. The climate is 
delightful ; the sky always unclouded and serene ; the 
winds mild, and refreshing breezes. This is by some sup- 
posed to be the Caphtor of the Hebrews. (Gen. x. 14.) 
In the Acts of the Apostles Salmone is mentioned, (xxvii. 
7,) as a place touched at by the apostle Paul, and is the 
eastern cape of the island. The Fair Havens and city of 
Lasea, (ver. 8,) were on the south-western coast. The 
haven of Phenice was on the western part of this coast. 
The wind Euroclydon (ver. 14,) or eastern tempest is the 
wind called by seamen the Levanter* 

The little island called Clauda, (now Gozzo,) lies south 
of the western end of Crete. This was the residence of 
Titus, who was left by the apostle Paul, (Tit. i. 5,) to " set 
in order the things that were wanting, and ordain elders in 
every city." The Cretans were famous among the Greeks 
for deceit, falsehood, and low cunning ; in confirmation of 
which the apostle cites Epimenides, one of their own poets. 
(Tit. i. 12, 13.) 

II. GREECE. 

It would be inconsistent with the design of this work, 
to go far into the description of Greece and Rome. These 
countries, while they are celebrated in profane history have 
but a secondary place in the geography of the Bible. The 
Greece of the Old Testament is not exactly the same with 
G 



74 GEOGRAPHY OF TKE BIBLE. 

the Greece of the New : by the former was meant Mace- 
donia, Epirus, Greece Proper, and the Morea ; by the lat- 
ter, the last two alone. 

Greece or Grecia was known by the name of Javan 
among the Hebrews. In our English Bible, the latter word 
is sometimes used, (Isa. lxvi. 19, Ezek. xxvii. 13,) and 
sometimes the modern name Greece. (Zech. ix. 13, Dan. 
viii. 21, Joel iii. 6.) Javan was (Gen. x. 2,) the fourth 
son of Japheth. The following places of Greece are 
named in the Scriptures : — 

1. Macedonia , which was included under the name Kit- 
tim, (see p. 72,) was at the time when it was visited by 
Paul, a Roman province, bounded on the north by Dar- 
dania and Moesia ; east by Thrace ; west by Illyria ; and 
south by Thessaly and Epirus. 

Christianity was planted in this province by the apostle 
Paul himself, and several of its cities are mentioned in the 
Acts and Epistles. 

Nicopolis, (now Nikopi,) was upon the river Nessus, 
(now Karasu,) which divided Macedonia from Thrace. 
From this place the epistle to Titus (iii. 12,) was written. 

Philippi was a city of Macedonia Prima, or the first 
part of Macedonia, for so Mr. Home understands the words 
which are translated (Acts xvi. 12,) the chief city of that 
part of Macedonia* It received its name from Philip king 
of Macedon, and stood near the Egean sea on the river 
Strymon. Julius Ccesar planted a colony here, which was 
afterwards enlarged by Augustus, so that the Philippians 
were Roman citizens. (Acts xvi. 12.) The apostle Paul 
founded a church here, to w T hich he also wrote an epistle. 
(Acts xvi. 1 Thess. ii. 2, Philip, i. 1.) The place is now 
occupied by a hamlet called Filiba. 

Neapolis was on the coast of the Egean, near the bay of 
Strymon, opposite to the isle of Thasus, and between Ab- 
dera and Philippi. (Acts xvi. 11.) 

Amphipolis was u city at the mouth of the river Strymon, 
and was at one time the capital of eastern Macedonia. 
Paul and Silas, (Acts xvii. 1,) in going to Thessalonica, 
passed through Amphipolis, as well as — 

Apollonia, which was situated upon a jutting cape be- 
tween Thessalonica and Philippi. 

Thessalonica was, at a more early period, called Therma. 



COUNTRIES WEST OF PALESTINE. 75 

Under the Romans it was the capital of one of the four di- 
visions, and the residence of the Praetor. In the days of 
the apostle many Jews dwelt there, (Acts xvii. 1,) some of 
whom, together with a number of Gentiles were converted 
to Christianity. (Acts xvii. 1 — 10, 1 Thess. i. 5, ii. 1.) 
This was the native place of Aristarchus and Secundus, 
(Acts xx. 4, xxvii. 2,) who were companions of Paul in 
his travels. 

Salonichi, as it is now called, is the great mart for all the 
neighbouring countries, and after Constantinople the chief 
commercial city of European Turkey, and the residence of 
a Greek archbishop. 

Berea, (now Veria or Kara-Veria,) is near the celebrated 
Mount Pindus, south-west of Thessalonica. Here an up- 
roar was caused by the Jews, (Acts xvii. 10 — 15,) and here 
Sopater, the companion of Paul, (Acts xx. 4,) was born. 

2. Illyricum. The apostle Paul says in his epistle to the 
Romans, (xv. 19 } ) that he had fully preached the gospel of 
Christ, as far as Illyricum. This name was applied to a 
country lying north-west of Macedonia, and answering 
nearly to the modern Dalmatia. The southern part of 
Illyricum was the Dalmatia to which Titus once went. 
(2 Tim. iv. 10.) 

3. Athens. To this most celebrated city of ancient 
Greece, the apostle Paul came, after leaving Berea. (Acts 
xvii. 10 — 15.) For an account of its power, its laws, its 
literature, its arts, and its base superstition, the reader is 
referred to the various histories of Greece. It is only as 
a place honoured by the preaching of Paul, that it now de- 
mands our notice. Athens is situated on the Gulf of Engia, 
(ancient Saronic Gulf,) 100 miles north-east of Lacedemon, 
and 320 south by west of Constantinople. Long. 23° 57' 
east of Greenwich. Lat. 38° 5' north. The Areopagus 
or Hill of Mars, on which the apostle preached, (Acts xvii. 
19,) was a steep and rocky height in the centre of Athens, 
where a celebrated court was held, the judges of which 
were called Areopagites ; Dionysius (ver. 34,) was one of 
these. Athens was the capital of Attica. 

4. Achaia, (Acts xviii. 12, Rom. xvi. 5, 2 Cor. xi. 10, 
1 Thess. i. 7, 8,) in its most limited sense, is taken for the 



76 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

region between Arcadia and the Gulf of Corinth ; in a 
more extended sense for what is now called Livadia, be- 
tween Thessaly and the Morea ; and sometimes for Greece 
in general. 

Corinth was the chief city (2 Cor. i. 1,) of Achaia Pro- 
per, upon an isthmus between the Egean and Ionian seas, 
(or between the bays of Lepanto and Egina,) and was re- 
markable for its splendour, wealth, and voluptuousness. 
In the neighbourhood of Corinth the Isthmian games were 
celebrated, to which the apostle often alludes. Paul re- 
sided here eighteen months, (Acts xviii. 1 — 17,) and found- 
ed a church, to which he afterwards wrote two epistles. 

5. Eiishah, is supposed to be a name given to some part 
of Greece, perhaps the Peloponnesus or Morea, or that part 
of it called Elis. It was among the isles or maritime coun- 
tries (see p. 71,) with which the Tyrians traded. (Gen. x. 
4, Ezek. xxvii. 7.) 

III. ITALY. 

In the history of the apostle Paul's journey mgs, we find 
notices of Italy, (Acts xvii. 2, xxvii. 1, 6,) and in his epis- 
tle to the Hebrews, the saints of Italy are said to send their 
salutations to the converted Israelites, ch. xiii. 24. Al- 
though the earlier Hebrews knew little of this country, 
yet in later times they acquired a melancholy acquaintance 
with the Roman power ; for 63 years before Christ Judea 
was invaded by Pompey, and became a Roman province. 
After this time many Jews resided in Italy, from which 
they were often banished upon slight grounds. (Acts xviii. 
2.) The apostle Paul is supposed to have gone to Rome 
about A. D. 63, and to have remained there two years. 
(Acts xxviii. 30, 31.) He twice defended himself and the 
gospel before the Emperor Nero, (2 Tim. iv. 16, and post- 
script,) and, according to ancient tradition, was beheaded 
at Aquae Salviae, three miles from Rome, on the 29th of 
June A. D. 66. 

Rome was the metropolis of the world in the days of the 
apostles. The history of this city is too well known to de- 
mand any account in this place, and minute description 
would tend little to illustrate the Scriptures. It is upon the 



COUNTRIES WEST OF PALESTINE. 77 

river Tiber, in lat. 41° 54' N. and long. 12° 29' E. of 
Greenwich.* 

Appii-Forum and the Three Taverns, were places near 
the city of Rome, through which the apostle Paul passed. 
(Acts xxviii. 15.) 

Puteoli, (now Pozzuolo,) was a city of Campania, about 
eight miles from Naples, in a province now called Terra 
di Lavoro. In this city Paul remained a week, on his 
journey as a prisoner to Rome. (Acts xxviii. 13.) 

Rhegium, (now Reggio,) was a city and port of Italy, 
at its south-western point, in Calabria, just opposite Mes- 
sina in Sicily. Here the apostle remained one day. (Acts 
xxviii. 13.) In the year 1782 this town was destroyed by 
an earthquake. 

Syracuse. The celebrated capital of the island of Sicily, 
on the eastern coast, was one of the most commercial and 
wealthy cities of antiquity. The apostle Paul spent two 
days here. (Acts xxviii. 12.) 

Melita, now called Malta, is an island between Sicily 
and Africa, about 60 miles south of Sicily, and 200 east of 
Tunis. It is memorable, as being the place where Paul 
suffered shipwreck, (Acts xxviii. 1 — 11,} and is an import- 
ant station for missionaries. The printing of the American 
missions in the Mediterranean is conducted at Malta. 

IV. SPAIN 

The apostle Paul was at one time desirous to preach the 
gospel in Spain, (Rom. xv. 24,) but we are not informed 
that he ever visited that country. 

It cannot be affirmed with any degree of certainty, that 
Spain is mentioned in the Old Testament. The Tarshish 
or T/iarsish of the Scriptures is by many thought to be 
Tartessus in Spain, in the modern province of Andalusia. 
Tarshish was one of the earliest and most important colo- 
nies of the Tyrians, (Isa. xxiii. 1, 6, 10,) and is mentioned 
with the other western nations in Genesis, (x. 4.) It is 
evident that Jonah (i. 8, iv. 2,) intended to visit some port 
of the Mediterranean, and Tartessus was probably the place. 
Wherever it may have been situated, it was a place of ex- 
tensive commerce. (Ezek. xxvii. 22, 25, xxxviii. 13.) 

Tarshish may also have been the name of a country near 
to Ophir, as the ships of Solomon were built at Ezion-geber, 

g2 



78 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

(2 Chron. xx. 36.) On all these points, however, there is 
no certainty attained, after all the labours of antiquarians. 
(See Ophir, p. 60, 61.) 



India is twice mentioned in the Bible, and both times in 
speaking of the extensive realm of Ahasuerus. (Esther i. 1, 
viii. 9.) During the long captivity of the children of Is- 
rael, they probably became acquainted with India, and in 
an early age they made use of some of the productions of 
Eastern Asia, as, for example, cinnamon. (Ex. xxx. 23.) 
The student of the Bible would, however, derive no aid 
from any description of this distant region. 



, PALESTINE. 

The country inhabited, for more than fifteen hundred 
years, by the posterity of Jacob, is mentioned in Scripture, 
and in history, under a variety of names. 

I. The oldest of these is, the Land of Canaan ; so called 
from Canaan, the son of Ham, by whom it was peopled 
after the flood, and whose descendants were dwelling in it 
when it was invaded by the Israelites, under Joshua. (Gen. 
x. 19, Ex. vi. 4, Lev. xxv. 38, Ps. cv. 110.) This name 
however, properly denoted only the region lying between 
the Mediterranean and the Jordan. (Gen. xiii. 9, Ex. xvi. 
35, Num. xxxiii. 51, Josh. v. 10 — 12.) Besides the terri- 
tory of the Israelites, it included Phenicia on the north, and 
Philistia on the south. (Zeph. ii. 5.) 

II. After the conquest of the country by the descendants 
of Jacob, who was also called Israel, (Gen. xxxii. 28,) it 
received the name of the Land of Israel. (1 Sam. xiii. 19, 
2 Kings vi. 23, xiv. 25, Ezek. vii. 2, Matt. ii. 22, 1 Chron. 
xiii. 2.) This name comprehended, of course, all their 
territories on both sides of the Jordan. 



PALESTINE. 79 

III. By the prophet Zechariah, (ii. 12,) it is called the 
Holy Land, as being the residence of God's peculiar people ; 
the place where his sanctuary was established, and his pre- 
sence visibly manifested. This name has now become still 
more applicable to the country, since it was the birth-place 
of the Saviour, and the scene of his sufferings. 

IV. In the epistle to the Hebrews, (xi. 9,) it is called 
the Land of Promise, because so often promised with an 
oath to Abraham and his posterity. (Gen. xii. 7, xiii. 14, 
xvii. 8, xxiv. 7, xxvi. 3, 4, Ex. xxxiii. 1, Num. xiv. 
16, 30, xxxii. 11.) v 

V. After the return of the children of Israel from cap- 
tivity in Babylon, the tribe of Judah was so decidedly 
pre-eminent among the twelve, that the name, Land of 
Judah, or Judea, was by degrees extended to the whole 
territory of the Israelites on both sides of the Jordan. For 
the same reason, and about the same time, the children of 
Israel began to be called Jews, (in Latin, Judsei.) (2 Chron. 
ix. 11, xvii. 2, Hag. ii. 14.) 

VI. In Genesis, xl. 15, it is called the Land of the He- 
brews, another name for the Israelites, derived from Eber, 
an ancestor of Abraham. This name is also used by Jose- 
phus, and some heathen writers. 

VII. Palestine was originally nothing more than the 
Greek name for the Land of the Philistines, a tract of 
country situated on the sea-coast, south-west of the Land 
of Israel. (See p. 162.) Usage, however, has extended it 
to the whole region bounded by the Jordan and the Medi- 
terranean, Arabia, and Mount Lebanon. It is the term 
most commonly employed at present. 

BOUNDARIES AND EXTENT. 

It is difficult to fix precisely the boundaries of the coun- 
try inhabited by the Israelites ; as its extent varied at dif- 
ferent periods of the Jewish history, and as its limits are 
expressed in Scripture by reference to places the exact 
situation of which is now uncertain. 

In general terms, however, it may be described as lying 



80 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

between the mountains of Lebanon on the north, the Me- 
diterranean on the west, and the deserts of Arabia on the 
south. Beyond the Jordan, it stretched eastward without 
any well-defined limit, into the region which lies between 
that river and the Euphrates. 

It was situated, therefore, between 31° and 33° 30 ' north 
latitude, and between 34° 30' and 37° east longitude from 
Greenwich. 

The exact dimensions are of course uncertain. The 
whole length of the land is commonly denoted in the Bible 
by the phrase '" from Dan to Beer-sheba," which places 
are supposed to have been distant from each other about 
150 miles. The greatest breadth from east to west, though 
very doubtful, was probably not more than 80 miles. 

FACE OF THE COUNTRY. 

Palestine is agreeably diversified with hill and dale. 
The Scriptures repeatedly make mention of it as a hilly 
country. (Ex. xv. 17, Deut. xi. 11, 1 Kings xx. 23, Ezek. 
xxxiv. 13.) Two parallel chains of mountains run from 
north to south, one on each side of the Jordan, originating 
in the mountains of Lebanon, which divide Palestine from 
Syria, and terminating in the mountains of Horeb and Si- 
nai, in Arabia Petrsea. From these, branch off a number 
of minor ridges, intersecting the whole country, and in- 
terrupted, here and there, by plains and spacious valleys. 
The whole region between Jaffa and Rama consists of a 
succession of gentle elevations and delightful fields and 
valleys. 

In Judea, there are mountains of moderate height, un- 
even and irregular in shape. About and beyond Jericho, 
the hills are bare and barren, the valleys uncultivated, full 
of stones, and destitute of verdure. 

In the north, the mountains, though inferior in height, 
have a more inviting aspect ; being covered with vegetation. 
The valleys, which they overlook, are fruitful, and are 
planted thick with orchards. 

The interior of the land is one great valley, w r atered by 
the only considerable river in the country, the Jordan, 
which flows from north to south, and empties itself into a 
large salt lake. 

In the western part of the hill country, the plains and 



PALESTINE. 81 

valleys are numerous, and some of them extensive, but far 
less productive than those upon the river. 

The sea-coast, to which the name Palestine more pro- 
perly belongs, is almost entirely level, and not only with- 
out rivers, but even destitute of brooks, except such tem- 
porary rivulets as are produced by the melting of the snow 
in winter. Notwithstanding, the soil is black and rich, 
and when the rains are regular, produces plentiful crops of 
grain and pulse. 

MOUNTAINS. 

L The mountains of Lebanon, which form the northern 
boundary of Palestine, dividing it from Syria, are consider- 
ed as belonging to both countries. * A branch of this range 
running to the south-west from Anti-Libanus, is probably 
the Mount Naphtali, upon which Kedesh one of the cities 
of refuge, was situated. (Josh. xx. 7.) It is now called 
Mount Seffad. 

II. Mount Carmel, which still retains its ancient name, 
is situated on a promontory, upon the south side of the bay 
of St. Jean d'Acre. It consists of several hills rising in 
separate peaks ; that furthest north being the highest. The 
soil of this mountain is very rich, producing fruits and flow- 
ers in abundance. From this circumstance it obtained its 
name, which signifies a fruitful field. It is also exceed- 
ingly well watered by innumerable rivulets. We often 
find allusions to its fertility and beauty in the Scriptures. 
(See Isa. xxxiii. 9, xxxv. 2, Sol. Song vii. 5, Jer. 1. 19, 
Amos i. 2.) 

Mount Carmel abounds in spacious caverns, some of 
which were formerly inhabited by monks, whose cells are 
still visible. On this mountain the prophets Elijah and 
Elisha, for the most part dwelt, and the Mohammedans still 
regard one of the caves with particular reverence, as having 
been the residence of Elijah. An order of monks in the 
Roman Catholic church are called Carmelites, because they 
erected their first convent on the summit of this mountain. 

III. To the south-east of Carmel, stands mount Tabor, 

* For some account of Lebanon, see Syria, p. 37. 



82 OEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

a lime-stone mountain, in the form of a sugar loaf, covered to 
the very top with forests of oaks and other trees. It over- 
tops all the neighbouring hills, to which the prophet al- 
ludes. (Jer. xlvi. 18.) On the south and west of Tabor 
lies the plain of Jezreel or Esdrelon, beyond which on the 
south are the mountains of Nablus. On the north, the hills 
of Nazareth come up to the very foot of Tabor. On the 
northern side, Mount Tabor is inaccessible. The summit 
of the mountain is an oval plain which can be compassed in 
half-an-hour. On this mountain Barak encamped with his 
ten thousand men, before he attacked Sisera. (Judg. iv. 6, 
12, 14.) Here also, according to a very old tradition, 
Christ was transfigured. (Matt. xvii. 1, Mark ix. 2, Luke 
ix. 28.) During the summer season, Mount Tabor is cov- 
ered with thick clouds, which break away at noon. A 
strong wind blows by day, and at night more dew falls than 
any where in Syria. The woody parts of the mountain 
abound in ounces and wild boars, and have always been 
a resort for hunters and fowlers. (Hos. v. 1.) From the top 
of Mount Tabor there is a noble prospect, reaching south- 
ward to Jerusalem, eastward to the plains of Jordan, and 
northward to the plains of Galilee. 

IV. A few miles to the north of Tabor, stands a rugged 
mountain, almost square, terminating in two sharp peaks. 
By the Arabs it is called the Horns of Hotein, from a vil- 
lage in the neighbourhood ; but by the Christians, the 
Mount of Beatitudes, from a tradition that the Sermon on 
the Mount was here delivered. (Matt. v. vi. vii. ) 

V. To the south of Nazareth, beyond the plain of Es- 
drelon, there is a mountain of moderate height, the south 
side of which is an abrupt and rugged precipice. This the 
tradition of the country designates as the place from which 
the Jews attempted to precipitate the Saviour. (Luke iv. 
29.) See p. 130. 

VI. On the. south-east border of the plain of Esdrelon, is 
the mountain of Gilboa, so called from the numerous springs 
by which it is watered, and remarkable for a bloody battle 
between the Israelites and the Philistines, in which king 
Saul was slain. (1 Sam. xxviii. 4, xxxi. 1, 2 Sam. i. 6, 21.) 
The soil of this mountain and its environs is rich, but un- 
cultivated. 



PALESTINE. 83 

VII. A little further south begins Mount Ephraim. This 
name is given in the Scriptures to a continuous tract of 
highlands, running through the territory of the tribe of 
Ephraim. (Josh. xvii. 10, 15, Judg. xvii. 1, xix. 16, 18, 
&c. &c.) Most of the mountains in this range are covered 
with woods, and interspersed with fruitful valleys. 

VIII. Still further south stand Mount Ebal and Mount 
Gerizim, separated by a valley, in which the old city of 
Shechem stood : on the south side Mount Ebal is green with 
luxuriant vegetation ; on the north, it is steep and rugged. 
These two mountains are remarkable for the solemn cere- 
mony performed upon them, by the command of Moses, at 
the ratification of the covenant between God and his people. 
(Deut. xxvii. 12 — 26, xxviii. 2 — 14, 16 — 57.) Moses also 
commanded, (Deut. xxvii. 4,) that after the conquest of the 
land an altar should be built, and a feast celebrated, on 
mount Ebal ; which was performed by Joshua, (viii. 30 — 
35.) The Samaritans, however, pretended, that it was 
upon mount Gerizim that these rites were performed, and 
accused the Jews of falsifying this passage of the penta- 
teuch. But the charge may, with greater justice be re- 
torted upon themselves. 

After the building of the second temple at Jerusalem, the 
Samaritans built one for themselves upon mount Gerizim, 
(John iv. 20,) which is still regarded as a holy place by 
the Samaritans at Nablus, who look towards it, when they 
pray, as the Jews look towards Jerusalem, and the Moham- 
medans towards Mecca. 

IX. The hills which encircle Nablus, (the ancient She- 
chem,) are the same upon which the sons of Jacob fed their 
flocks, (Gen. xxxvii. 14, 17, 25,) and are still famous for 
their pasture- grounds. One of these is probably the same 
called Zalmon in Judges, (ix. 48, 49,) and Salmon in the 
Psalms, (lxviii. 14.) 

X. To Mount Ephraim belongs the Hill of Gaash, where 
Joshua was buried, (Josh. xxiv. 30, Judg. ii. 9,) and per- 
haps, also, the brooks of Gaash. (2 Sam. xxiii. 30, 1 Chron. 
xi. 32.) 

XI. In 2 Chron. xiii. 4, mention is made of Mount Ze- 



84 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE 

maraim, ivhich is in Mount Ephraim; and in Joshua xviii. 
22, we find a city of the same name, but situated in the 
southern part of Benjamin. 

XII. When the continued chain of mountains, running 
from north to south, enters the territory of the tribe of Ju- 
dah, it assumes the name of the Mountain of Judah, (Josh. 
xx. 7, &/C.) and stretches to the southern extremity of Pa- 
lestine, and eastward to the valley of the Jordan. In an- 
cient times, it was called the mountain of the Jimorites, 
after the Canaanitish tribe, which had possession of it. 
(Deut. i. 20.) The mountains of this chain grow more and 
more barren and precipitous, as we recede from Mount 
Ephraim towards Jerusalem. 

XIII. Not far to the south-west of Jerusalem, is Mount 
Perazi?n, of which Isaiah speaks, (xxviii. 21,) in allusion, 
no doubt, to the slaughter of the Philistines by David, upon 
Baal-Perazim. (See 2 Sam. v. 18, 20, where the meaning 
of the name is given.) 

XIV. The Mount of Olives rises on the east of Jerusa- 
lem, (Zech. xiv. 4,) in three peaks, the most northerly of 
which is the highest point about the city. Though it no 
longer produces olives in abundance, it is rich in grapes, 
citrons, almonds, dates, and figs. A little below the mid- 
dle peak stands a chapel, on the site of a splendid church 
called the church of the Ascension, built by the Empress 
Helena, in the fourth century. In this chapel a stone is 
exhibited to pilgrims, containing the impress of a human 
foot, three fingers deep, and said to have been left there by 
the foot of Christ, at the moment of his ascension. It is 
expressly said, however, (Luke xxiv. 50, 52,) that he as- 
cended from Bethany ; which village lay at the foot of the 
mountain, on the eastern side. 

The southern side of this mountain is called by the Arabs 
the Mount of Solomon, because that king here worshipped 
idols. (1 Kings xi. 7.) The. place where his altars stood, 
till destroyed by Josiah, was called the Mount of Corrup- 
tion. (2 Kings xxiii. 13.) 

From this mountain there is a commanding view of the 
surrounding country; for which reason, under the Mosaic 



PALESTINE. 85 

law, fires were kindled on its summit to announce the be- 
ginnings of the months. 

XV. The ridge of mountains, stretching to the north- 
east, from Jerusalem towards Jericho, is a mere succession 
of barren rocks. The highest and most remarkable in the 
range, is that called Quarantania, or the mountain of the 
Forty Days Fast, from a tradition that it was the place of 
Christ's temptation. (Matt, iv.) It is very difficult of ac- 
cess, and is destitute, not only of trees and grass, but even 
of earth; being composed, almost exclusively, of naked 
rock. 

XVI. South of Jerusalem the mountains are, for the 
most part, wholly barren. As we draw near to Bethlehem, 
however, we begin to meet with olive-yards and vineyards. 
Bethlehem itself is situated on a high and pleasant hill, 
stretching from east to west. Further to the south-east, the 
mountains become still more bare and rugged, and in the 
immediate neighbourhood of the salt sea, they are high and 
exceedingly precipitous. The steepest hills and deepest 
valleys are in the south, were the Bedouins, or wandering 
Arabs, often take refuge from their enemies, and feed their 
flocks and herds ; for though the mountains on the shore 
of the salt sea are mere naked rocks, the valleys between 
them afford the richest pastures. In this region is the Car- 
mel, mentioned in 1 Sam. xv. 12, xxv. 5, which still re- 
tains its ancient name. The hills lying further west are 
still called by the Christians of the Holy Land, the Moun- 
tains of Judah, (Josh. xi. 21, xx. 7, xxi. 11, 2 Chron. 
xxvii. 4,) and have a far more inviting aspect than those 
just mentioned. 

Some miles to the north-west is the tract called the Wil- 
derness of John the Baptist, (Matt. iii. 1, Mark i. 4, Luke 
iii. f3,) which is now one of the most delightful spots in 
Judea; being, in fact, a highly cultivated garden. A grotto 
is here shown as the hermitage inhabited by the fore-run- 
ner of Christ. 

XVII. Mount Seir, which stretches to the south of the 
mountains of Judah, is, perhaps, the most desolate and bar- 
ren chain of mountains in the world. In early times it 
was inhabited by a race called Horites, that is, dwellers in 

H 



GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

caves , (Gen. xiv. 6,) who were afterwards destroyed by the 
posterity of Esau. (Deut. ii. 12.) 

XVIII. Bashan and Gilead were the names given by 
the ancient Hebrews to the mountainous district lying be- 
tween the brooks Jarmuk and Arnon, east of Jordan. Ba- 
shan properly denoted the northern half of this region, and 
Gilead the southern ; though the two names appear to 
have been sometimes used indifferently, to denote the 
whole. They are often found in connexion. (Josh. xvii. 
lj 5, 2 Kings x. 33, Mic. vii. 14.) 

Bashan is full of caves, once the residence of men, some 
of which are still inhabited. It is also remarkable for the 
great depth of its valleys, though it has no lofty mountains. 
In Gilead, the ground is higher, and rises into hills of con- 
siderable elevation, covered, for the most part, with thick 
forests. 

There are frequent allusions in Scripture to the cattle of 
Bashan, (Deut. xxxii. 14, Ps. xxii. 12, Ezek. xxxix. 18, 
Amos iv. 1,) and of Gilead, (Jer. 1. 19, Sol. Song iv. 1.) 
And even to this day they are famous in the east for the 
excellence of their pasture-grounds. There are also some 
allusions to the oaks of Bashan, (Isa. ii. 13, Ezek. xxvii. 
6,) in which tree, the country still abounds. 

Mount Gilead, properly so called, stretches from east 
to west, at some distance to the south of the brook Jab- 
bok. It was on this mountain, that Jacob and Laban set 
up a heap of stones, as a witness of the covenant between 
them, from which circumstance it derives its name of Gilead 
or Galeed. (Gen. xxxi. 47.) On this mountain, too, the 
army of Gideon was reduced from thirty-two thousand to 
three hundred. (Judg. vii. 3.) 

XIX. The peak of mount Attanes, some distance to the 
south of mount Gilead, a brook being between them, is the 
highest point in this whole region. It is probably the ancient 
Nebo or Pisgah, from which Moses viewed the promised 
land, before his death. (Deut. xxxii. 49, xxxiv. 1, Num. 
xxvii. 12, xxxiii. 47, 48.) 



PALESTINE. 87 



CAVES. 



Palestine, like all other mountainous countries which 
rest on a bed of limestone, abounds in caves. These in for- 
mer times have been applied to various uses, of most of 
which we find examples in the Scripture. Sometimes they 
have been occupied as dwelling-places, not only for a time, 
in great emergences, as in the case of Lot, (Gen. xix. 30.) 
but permanently. We read in Scripture of whole tribes 
called Horites, from their dwelling in caves. (Gen. xiv. 6.) 
And it has already been mentioned, that the Mount Bashan 
contains multitudes of caves, which have evidently been 
inhabited in former times. We know, too, that Elijah and 
Elisha dwelt in caves upon Mount Carmel. It is a very old 
tradition, that the stable in which Christ was born at Beth- 
lehem, was a cave ; and it is a fact, that, even now, caves 
are often used as stables in the east. Sometimes they have 
been resorted to as places of concealment from pursuing 
enemies. Of this, repeated instances occur in Scripture. 
(Josh. x. 16, Judg. vi. 2, 1 Sam. xiii. 6, xxii. 1, 2, xxiv. 
1, 2 Sam. xxiii. 13, Ps. lvii. title.) A spacious cave near 
Engedi is still pointed out, as the one where David and his 
followers took refuge when they fled from Saul. (1 Sam. 
xxiv. 1, &,c.) Sometimes they were used as burial-places. 
(Gen. xxiii. 9, 19.) In the neighbourhood of Jerusalem, 
there are a great number of caves, once used as sepulchres, 
some of which are remarkable for their architectural orna- 
ments. Among these are the graves of the Judges of Israel, 
the graves of the kings of Judah, the sepulchre of Jehosha- 
phat, and that of Joseph of Arimathea. 

PLAINS AND VALLEYS. 

I. The most remarkable plain in Palestine is that through 
which the Jordan flows, and which from that river is called 
the Plain of Jordan, (2 Chron. iv. 17,) or the region round 
about Jordan. (Matt. iii. 5, Luke iii. 3.) It is also called by 
Joshua (xi. 2, xii. 3,) the plain south of Cinneroth, i. e. the 
sea of Tiberias : and in 2 Kings xxv. 4, Ezek. xlvii. 8, 
simply the plain. Its modern name is El Gaur. Strictly 
speaking, it extended only from the sea of Tiberias to the 
Dead sea ; but the word was sometimes used to denote the 



GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE, 

whole extent of country watered by the Jordan, from 
the foot of Lebanon to the wilderness of Paran. In some 
parts a multitude of rivulets flowing from the hills which 
enclose this plain cover the adjacent soil with verdure. But 
for the most part the plain of Jordan is a parched and bar- 
ren waste, hotter than any other region of the country, and 
exceedingly unwholesome. It is inhabited only by Be- 
douins, and by them only in the winter. 

That part of the plain of Jordan which is contiguous to 
Jericho and the salt sea, is called in the Old Testament, the 
Plains of Jericho. (Josh. iv. 13, v. 10, 2 Kings xxv. 5.) 
The soil in that quarter, is fruitful and well watered, but 
uncultivated. The only product of importance is the bal- 
sam obtained from the Zaccum-tree, which is considered 
useful in the cure of wounds. 

II. The valley of Jiphthah-El was the boundary between 
the possessions of Zebulon and Asher. (Josh. xix. 14, 27.) 

Ill- The plain or valley of Jezreel, in Galilee, (Josh. xvii. 
16,) stretched southward from Nazareth and Mount Tabor. 
In later times it was called by the Greeks Esdrelon. In 
1 Sam. xxxi. 7, it is called simply the Valley. The soil is 
very fruitful, but uncultivated. It is remarkable for several 
battles, one between Gideon and the Midianites, (Judg. vi. 
33,) one between Saul and the Philistines, (1 Sam. xxix. 
1,) and one between Ahab and the Svrians. (1 Kings xx. 
26.) 

IV. Sharon, which in Hebrew signifies a plain, extends 
from Csesarea to Joppa. There are frequent allusions in 
the Scriptures to its fertility and the richness of its pastures. 
(Isa. xxxiii. 9, xxxv. 2, lxv. 10, Sol. Song ii. 1, 1 Chron. 
v. 16, xxvii. 29.) This plain produces melons in such 
profusion, that it annually supplies, not only the adjacent 
regions, but the whole coast of Syria, the isle of Cyprus, 
and the city of Damietta in Egypt. The greater part of it, 
however, is uncultivated and overgrown with grass and 
flowers. In the midst of this plain there is a village still 
called Sharon, which was anciently a city. (Josh. xii. 18.) 
To this plain appertains the smaller plain of Ono, (Neh. vi. 
2, xi. 35.) 



PALESTINE. 89 

V. The valley of Ai lay to the north of a city of the 
same name, on the northern frontier of the tribe of Benja- 
min. In this valley Joshua encamped, when he besieged 
the city. (Josh. viii. 11.) 

VI. The valleys of Gideon and Ajalon are remarkable 
for the victory achieved by Joshua over the five allied 
kings who besieged the city of Gibeon, (Josh, x.) and for 
the miracle performed there, when " he said in the sight 
of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou 
Moon, in the valley of Ajalon l" (x. 12.) To this battle 
Isaiah alludes, when he says "the Lord shall be wroth, as 
in the valley of Gibeon :" (xxviii. 21.) These valleys were 
situated in the tribe of Dan, north-west of Jerusalem. The 
city of Gibeon lay towards the west, at no great distance 

VII. The valley of Zephathah, near the city of Maresha, 
in the south-western part of the territory of Judah, is re- 
markable for a battle between Asa and the Ethiopians. (2 
Chron. xiv. 9 — 13.) 

VIII. A few miles south-west of Jerusalem lies the val- 
ley of Elah, (that is, the valley of terebinth or turpentine 
trees,) in which David slew Goliath. (1 Sam xvii. 2, 49 — 
51.) Through it flows the brook from which David chose 
the five smooth stones. (1 Sam. xvii. 40.) 

IX. The valley of Rephaim or the Giants, so called from 
an old Canaanitish race of gigantic stature, (Gen. xv. 20,) 
stretched from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. It was celebrated 
of old for its fertility and abundant crops of grain, as ap- 
pears from Isa. xvii. 5, where the overthrow of the Israel- 
ites is compared to a harvest of gleaning in the valley of 
Rephaim. In this valley, David twice defeated the Philis- 
tines. (2 Sam. v. 18 — 25. - 

X. East of Jerusalem, between the city and the Mount 
of Olives, there is a narrow but deep valley, running from 
north to south, called the valley of Jehoshaphat, because 
that king is supposed to have been buried there. This 
valley is called the valley of decision, in Joel iii. where we 
are informed, that in it God will gather all nations to be 
judged ; (iii. 2, 12, 14.) It is the belief of the Mohamme- 

h 2 






90 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

dans, that at the last day, Mohammed will be seated on a 
pillar erected in this valley. 

XL South-east of the valley of Jehoshaphat, and north 
of the valley of Rephaim, lay the valley of Hinnom or of 
the son of Hinnom. (Josh. xv. 8, xviii. 16.) In a certain 
part of this valley called Tophet, some of the kings of Judah 
made their children pass through the fire to Moloch. (Jer. 
vii. 31, Isa. xxx. 33.). Josiah put an end to this abomina- 
tion, and defiled the place, (2 "Kings xxiii. 10,) probably by 
depositing dead bodies there. By the later Jews, the name 
of this valley was employed to designate the place of future 
punishment, in which sense it is often used in the New 
Testament. (Matt. v. 22, xviii. 9, Mark ix. 43, Luke 
xii. 5.) 

XII. Not far from Gilgal, where the children of Israel 
first encamped, when they entered Canaan, lay the valley 
of Achor or Tribulation, so called from the calamities oc- 
casioned by the theft of Achan, who was stoned here. 
(Josh. vii. 24 — 28.) This valley was a part of the north- 
ern boundary of the tribe of Judah. (Josh. xv. 7.) The 
prophet Hosea, in predicting the return of the Hebrews 
from captivity, declares that God would give them the val- 
ley of Achor for a door Hope; in other words, that the 
same spot which was a place of distress and tribulation, 
when Israel first entered Canaan, should be a place of joy- 
ful expectation to those who returned from exile. The 
name is also mentioned in another prophecy, Isa. lxv. 10. 

XIII. Hebron, which lies a few miles south of Bethle- 
hem, is a long valley, agreeably diversified with rocky hills, 
forests of oak and fir, vineyards and olive gardens. Vines 
are more cultivated here, than in any other part of Pales- 
tine, though little wine is made. To this region, probably 
belongs the valley of Eshcol or cluster of grapes, so called 
from the cluster which the spies brought back to Moses. 
(Num. xiii. 24, 25.) In the Vale of Hebron, Jacob was 
dwelling when he sent Joseph to seek his brethren. (Gen. 
xxxvii. 14.) 

XIV. The valley of Salt, where Joab slew ten- thousand 



PALESTINE. 91 

Edornites, (Ps. lx. title, 2 Sam. viii. 13, 1 Chron. xviii. 
12,) is a long level tract at the south-western extremity of 
the Dead sea, totally destitute of vegetation. 

XV. Ezekiel, in predicting the destruction of Gog and 
Magog, says ; " I will give unto Gog a place there of 
graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of 
the sea ;" (xxxix. 11.) This is supposed to indicate a plain 
or valley, on the east side of the Jordan, at the southern 
extremity of the sea of Tiberias, where there is a ford. 

XVI. The valley of Succoth, used by David, (Ps. lx. 6,) 
in opposition to Shechem, to denote the country east of Jor- 
dan, was situated in the tribe of Gad. (Josh. xiii. 27.) 
Here Jacob, on his return from Mesopotamia "built him 
a house and made booths for his cattle," for which reason 
he called it Succoth or the valley of Booths. (Gen. xxxiii. 
17.) 

XVII. The valley over against Beth-Peor in the land 
of Moab, where Moses repeated the law to the people, 
(Deut. iv. 46,) and where he himself was buried, (xxxiv. 
6,) is probably somewhere in the neighbourhood of Mount 
Nebo or Attarus, already mentioned. 

XVIII. The plains of Moab, where the children of Is- 
rael were so long encamped, before they entered Canaan, 
(Num. xxii. 1, xxxiii. 48 — 50,. Deut. xxxiv. 1, 8,) ex- 
tended from the brook Wale to the Arnon, beyond Jordan. 
The soil is sandy and unfruitful. 

This tract of country, which belonged originally to the 
Moabites, was taken from them by the Amorites, who had 
possession of it, when the Israelites encamped there. It 
was subsequently occupied by the tribes of Reuben and 
Gad. (Num. xxxii. 33.) The last place in this region 
where the Israelites encamped before they crossed the Jor- 
dan, was Shittim. (Num. xxv. 1, xxxiii. 4, 9. Josh. ii. 1, 
iii. 1, Mic. vi. 5.) This is a different Shittim from that 
of which Joel speaks, (iii. 18,) which was probably a val- 
ley on the west of Jordan full of water after hard rains, but 
at other times dry. He declares, therefore, that in the 
happy times which he predicts, it should be no longer so ; 
but that ' ' a fountain should come forth of the house of the 



92 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

Lord, and water the valley of Shittim." Similar images 
are employed by Ezekiel (xlvii. 1 — 12,) and Zechariah, 
(xiv. 8.) Nothing further is known respecting the situa- 
tion of this valley. 

DESERTS AND FORESTS. 

By the word desert and wilderness, as used in Scripture, 
we are not always to understand mere wastes. These names 
are often applied to tracts of country, which, though not 
agriculturally cultivated, afford the richest pastures. Isaiah 
(xlii. 11,) speaks of " the wilderness and the cities thereof, " 
and Joshua, (xv. 61,) enumerates six cities, with their vil- 
lages, all situated in the wilderness of Judah. 

I. Almost all the deserts in the Holy Land are in the 
southern district. The soil of the northern parts is ge- 
nerally fertile. The only desert in the north, of which 
we find any mention, is the desert of Bethsaida, (Luke ix. 
10,) beyond the sea of Galilee. To this desert Christ re- 
tired, when he heard that Herod had beheaded John the 
Baptist. (Matt. xiv. 13.) In this desert, he fed the five 
thousand with five loaves and two fishes. (Matt. xiv. 15 — 
21, Mark vi. 35 — 44, Luke ix. 12 — 15.) Bethsaida, in 
the neighbourhood of which this desert lay, was situated 
in Gaulonitis, now called Jolan, an open champaign dis- 
trict south of Mount Hermon. 

II. The wilderness of Jericho, between Jerusalem and 
Jericho, consisted of a series of deep valleys, infested, from 
the earliest times, by robbers. A rising ground at the en- 
trance of this wilderness, is called, (Josh. xv. 7,) the going' 
up to Adummiw, which name signifies red or bloody ; in al- 
lusion, perhaps, to the bloody murders, repeatedly commit- 
ted there. Of this wilderness our Saviour speaks in the 
parable of the good Samaritan. (Luke x. 30, 35.) Not far 
from the rising ground already mentioned, the ruins of a 
caravanserai or eastern inn, may still be seen, called the 
Samaritans 1 Inn, and at no great distance the remains of a 
fort called the Samaritans' Castle. From this wilderness, 
the traveller passes over a steep declivity into the Plain 
of Jericho. 



PALESTINE. 93 

III. The wilderness of Judah extends along the western 
shore of the Dead sea. Here John the Baptist really lived 
and preached, and not in the district which now bears his 
name; but which is, in fact, a garden, not a desert. (P. 85.) 
The solitary shore of the Dead sea was much more suited 
to his character and mode of life, than such a spot ; and be- 
sides we know that he baptized his converts in the waters 
of the Jordan, to which the wilderness of Judea was con- 
tiguous. 

IV. Within the bounds of the wilderness of Judah, and, 
in fact, forming a part of it, is the wilderness of En-gedi, 
where David hid himself so long, to elude the pursuit of 
Saul. (1 Sam. xxiv. 2.) It is full of precipitous and over- 
hanging hills. 

On the southern border of this desert, in the wilderness 
of Ziph, to which David fled from Keilah, with six hundred 
men. (1 Sam. xxiii. 13, 14, 15.) This also abounds in hills 
and caverns, as well as in wild beasts. 

South of Ziph lies the wilderness of Maon, where David 
took refuge, when the Ziphites had betrayed him. (1 Sam. 
xxiii. 19, 24* 25.) It extends to the mountains of Idumea, 
and is intersected by many deep ravines. 

V. To the w r est of the deserts just described, at the 
southern extremity of the land of Israel, lay the wilderness 
of Beer-sheba, in which Hagar wandered when she was 
expelled from her master's house. (Gen. xxi. 14.) 

VI. The wilderness of Tekoa was also, in fact, a part of the 
wilderness of Judah, which lay to the south-east of Jerusa- 
lem. Here Jehoshaphat, . king of Judah, defeated the re- 
bellious Ammonites and Moabites. (2 Chron. xx. 20.) 
Here, too, Jonathan, the Maccabee, took refuge, when 
Bacchides, the general of the king of Syria, sought his life. 
(1 Maccab. ix. 33.) 

'<• 

VII. The wilderness of Gibeon, mentioned 2 Sam. ii. 
24, was, no doubt, situated in the neighbourhood of the 
city of Gibeon, north-west from Jerusalem. 

VIIL The wilderness of Beth-awn^ is mentioned, (Josh. 



94 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

xviii. 12,) as forming a part of the northern boundary of 
the tribe of Benjamin. 

Palestine is not now, and probably never has been, a 
very woody country. There are few forests mentioned in 
the Bible. When the Israelites first entered Canaan, the 
region which fell to the lot of the tribe of Ephraim was 
woodland ; as appears from Josh. xvii. 15 — 18, where 
Joshua advises the Ephraimites to fell the trees, and make 
room for their settlements. It was not entirely cleared, 
however ; for in this same quarter was the wood in which 
Jonathan found wild honey ; (1 Sam. xiv. 22, 25 ;) and the 
battle between the armies of David and Absalom, " was in 
the wood of Ephraim." (2 Sam. xviii. 6.) 

In 1 Sam. xxii. 5, we read that David fled before Saul, 
and " came into the forest of Hareth" in the land of Judah. 
Nothing more is known of the situation of this forest. 

LAKES. 

I. Near the northern boundary of the Holy Land, the 
river Jordan passes through a small marshy lake, called, in 
Josh. xi. 5, 6, the waters of Merom, or high waters, because 
situated higher than the other lakes of Palestine. Its water 
is slimy and considered unwholesome ; but abounds in fish. 
The bed of this lake is never full, except in the spring of 
the year, when the snow melts upon Anti-Libanus. At 
other times, the greatest part of it is dry, and produces 
reeds and other shrubs, among which a multitude of ser- 
pents and wild swine conceal themselves. Only the eastern 
shore is inhabited. The south-western shore is called 
Melah, i. e. Salt, because the soil is there covered with a 
saline crust. 

II. Further south, the Jordan flows through another 
lake or inland sea, called in some parts of Scripture, the Sea 
of Galilee, (Matt. iv. 18, John vi. 1,) and the Sea of 
Gennesaret, (Mark vi. 53, Luke v. 1,) from the regions 
which environ it ; in others, the sea of Chinnereth, or Cin- 
neroth, (Num. xxxiv. 11, Deut. iii. 17, Josh. xii. 3,) and 
the sea of Tiberias, (John vi. 1, xxi. 1,) from cities of that 
name which stood upon its shores. The last mentioned 
name is that which it still bears. 

There is no other part of Palestine which can compare, 



PALESTINE. 95 

in richness and beauty, with the environs of this lake. In 
ancient times, its natural advantages were heightened by- 
assiduous cultivation. Many populous cities once stood 
upon its shores; such as Tiberias, Tarichaea, Bethsaida, 
Capernaum, Chorazin, Hippo, and many others, which are 
now in ruins. Josephus describes this region as a perfect 
paradise, blessed with a delicious temperature, and pro- 
ducing the fruits of every climate under heaven, not at 
stated periods merely, but in endless succession throughout 
the year. The neglect of agriculture in later times, has of 
course made it less productive ; but the mildness of the cli- 
mate, and the native richness of the soil, are still extolled 
by travellers. 

The river Jordan maintains its course through the mid- 
dle of the lake, and, it is said, without mingling its waters. 
The water of the lake is of considerable depth, and uni- 
formly so, without any shallows. It is sweet and plea- 
sant to the taste, and, compared with that of the marshy 
districts, very clear. It abounds in fish, which are taken 
with a small hand-net, managed by one man. (See Luke 
v. John xxi. 1 — 11.) The first four disciples chosen by 
our Saviour, (Peter, Andrew, James and John,) were fisher- 
men upon the sea of Galilee, and actually fishing when 
he called them. (Matt. iv. 18, 22.) This lake, notwith- 
standing its small extent, # is very stormy ; (see Matt. viii. 
23—27, Mark iv. 35—41, Luke viii. 22—25 ;) a circum- 
stance owing probably to the high hills by which it is sur- 
rounded. 

III. About seventy miles to the south of the sea of Ga- 
lilee, the Jordan terminates its course in one of the most 
extraordinary lakes in the world, called in Scripture the 
Salt sea, (Gen. xiv. 3, Num. xxxiv. 12,) from the na- 
ture of its waters ; the Sea of the Plain, (Deut. iv. 49,) 
and the East sea, (Ezek. xlvii. 18, Joel ii. 20,) from its 
geographical position. By the Greeks it was called 
Asphaltites from the great quantities of bituminous matter 
which it produces* It is commonly, however, called the 
Dead sea, from the fact long believed, and confirmed by 

* Mr. Buckingham, a late traveller in the east, after accurate measure- 
ment, gives the greatest length of the Sea of Galilee at from 12 to 15 miles, 
and a variable breadth of from 6 to 9 miles. 



96 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

recent observations, that no animal can live in its wa- 
ters and no vegetable on its shores.* The Arabs call it 
the Sea of Lot, because John once resided in this region. 
(Gen. xiii. 12.) 

The space now occupied by the Dead sea was once a 
fruitful and well- watered plain, called the Vale of Siddim, 
in or near which stood the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah 
which God destroyed on account of the wickedness of their 
inhabitants. (Gen. xiii. 10, xix. 24. 25.) The shores of 
this sea are entirely destitute of verdure. 

The Valley of Salt, at the southern extremity, has been 
already mentioned. On the west it is encircled with rocky 
barren heights. The water is clear and bright, but saturated 
with salt. The stones on the margin of the lake are all 
covered with a saline crust, and a piece of wood thrown 
into it is instantly coated with the same. No fish inhabit 
the waters of this sea, those which enter from the tributarv 
streams perish instantaneously. In allusion to these ex- 
traordinary facts, the prophet Ezekiel, (xlvii. 8 — 10,) in 
predicting the future renovation of the face of nature, ex- 
presses the great change that shall take place by declaring, 
that the wilderness adjoining the Dead sea should become 
a fruitful field. The peculiar composition of the water of 
this lake causes substances to float upon its surface which 
would sink in any other water. The bottom of the lake is 
composed of a black slime, offensive to the smell when 
stirred. The gravel about the edges is black, and com- 
bustible, like coal. Towards the southern end of the lake 
there is a ford, passable in the summer months ; which, 
however, is little used, as the water is so impregnated with 
salt that it excoriates the body of the passenger. Accord- 
ing to the Arabs who reside in the vicinity, there is no 
perceptible variation in the height of the water at different 
times. 

The Dead sea has apparently no outlet. Some have 
supposed that it communicates by subterraneous channels 
with the Mediterranean, others that it flows into the Red 
sea. The opinion of the Arabs is, that it loses its waters 
by evaporation ; thick clouds being often seen hanging over 
it, which do not extend beyond the water's edge. This 
lake produces asphaltos a bituminous or pitchy substance, 

* Scholz's travels, 1821. 



PALESTINE. 97 

in great abundance, though not at all times. It is found 
in large cakes, often more than a foot thick floating upon 
the surface. 

In the vicinity of the Dead sea a tree is said to grow, 
bearing apples of the most inviting aspect, which, how- 
ever, when divided, are found empty, or filled with ashes. 
The truth of this account, however, is disputed. 

IV- We learn from Jeremiah, (xlviii. 3*2,) that the vines 
of Sibmah reached " even to the sea of Jazer." Jazer was 
a city of the Ammonites, not far from Philadelphia ; (see 
p. 50;) whose ruins are still visible, and some ponds, but 
no lake of any size. 

RIVERS AND BROOKS. 

The most considerable river in the Holy Land, and in- 
deed the only one that deserves the name, is the Jordan, 
which flows through the whole length of the country, in a 
straight line from north to south. Its true source is in a 
rocky basin, 120 paces in circumference, called by the 
Greeks Phiala or the bowl, and supplied by ihree unfailing 
springs. This reservoir communicates by. a subterraneous 
passage, with a grotto north of Csesarea Philippi, from 
which flows the Brook Banias. This stream uniting with 
the Dan and the Hashega, brooks which rise near the foot 
of Mount Hermon, form the Jordan. The river flows on 
in a narrow channel for some distance, till it enters and 
passes through the marshy lake, called in Scripture the 
Waters of Merom ; a few miles to the south of which, there 
is a stone bridge of four arches, called the Bridge of the 
Sons of Jacob. At this spot, according to the tradition of 
the country, Jacob passed over Jordan, on his return from 
Mesopotamia. (Gen. xxxii. 10.) A few miles beyond this 
bridge, the river falls into the sea of Galilee, through the 
middle of which it passes undisturbed, and flows out at the 
opposite extremity, near the ruins of Tarichaea. It then 
flows about seventy miles southward, through the plain of 
Jordan, and is lost in the waters of the Dead sea. When 
it first leaves the sea of Galilee, it passes through a deep 
valley, the verdure and fertility of which present a striking 
contrast to the arid wastes around. This delightful spot, 
which is shaded with thick groves, and enlivened by the 
I 



98 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

song of nightingales, is called in Zech. xi. 3, and else- 
where, the pride of Jordan. It is still frequented by wild 
beasts, and was once a resort of lions, as appears from Jer. 
xlix. 19, 1. 44, where of the predicted destroyer it is said, 
" He shall come up like a lion, from the swelling* of Jor- 
dan;" Between the sea of Tiberias and the Dead sea, the 
Jordan receives many tributary streams both from east and 
west, which render its course so rapid that it is scarcely 
possible to swim across it. In the winter it completely 
overflows the deep valley in which it is imbedded, though 
it never rises to the level of the great plain of Jordan. We 
read in Judges iii. 28, that Ehud took possession of "the 
fords of Jordan,' 5 to intercept the Moabites. The river is 
now fordable in many places in the summer ; at other times 
in very few, and those known only to the Arabs. We read 
in Josh. iii. 15, (see also 1 Chron. xii. 15,) that the " Jor- 
dan overflows all his banks all the time of harvest," which 
in Palestine is the latter part of March and the whole of 
April. This, however, is no longer the case ; perhaps, be- 
cause the banks of the river are now higher. 

The waters of the Jordan are turbid, being charged with 
a black bituminous sediment. When drawn off, however, 
in vessels, it is clear and bright, as well as pleasant to the 
taste, and may be kept fresh an unusual length of time. 
With this water John baptized his followers, as well as 
Christ himself, (Matt. iii. 16, Mark i. 10, Luke iii. 21, 
22,) a circumstance which, in early times, occasioned much 
superstitious reverence for this river. Thousands of orien- 
tal Christians have, for centuries, thronged annually to be 
washed in the water with which Jesus was baptized. This 
practice still continues, and is a source of considerable pro- 
fit to the Turkish government, who exact a contribution 
from every pilgrim. 

The whole length of the Jordan is about 100 miles by a 
straight course on the map, and, with its windings, may be 
computed at perhaps 150 miles. Different accounts are 
given by travellers cf its breadth. Maundrell makes it 20 
yards ; Volney 60 paces at its entrance into the Dead sea ; 
Chateaubriand, at the same place, 50 paces ; Burckhardt 
80 paces ; Buckingham, who crossed near Jericho, in the 
year 1815, 25 yards. We may safely take the average at 

* The" same word that is translated pride, in Zech. xi. 3. 



PALESTINE. . 99 

thirty yards, but it is probable that no river of so little 
breadth rolls with so rapid or so deep a current. 

II. Of the minor streams mentioned in the Bible, the 
most northerly is the Kishon, which rises at the foot of 
Mount Tabor, and not far from its source is divided into 
two branches, one of which flows eastward into the Dead 
sea, while the other, which is the largest, and to which 
the name Kishon is commonly applied, takes an opposite 
direction, and after receiving in its course supplies from all 
the springs and brooks of Mount Ephraim, Samaria, and 
the plain of Esdrelon, empties itself into the Bay of Acre, 
at the foot of Mount Carmel. The mouth of this stream is 
often choked with sand during the summer season, in 
which case it leaves its channel and forms a sort of lake. 
In winter, however, the water is so high that it is danger- 
ous to cross it. The banks of this stream are among the 
most beautiful and fertile spots in Palestine. 

The Kishon is remarkable for the battle between Sisera 
and Barak, which was fought upon its banks. (Judg. iv. 
7, 13.) In the song which Deborah composed on that oc- 
casion, it is called the waters of Megiddo, (Judg. v. 19,) 
from a place of that name, near which it flowed. Here, too. 
Elijah slew the four hundred and fifty priests of Baal. (1 
Kings xviii. 40.) The Kishon is probably " the river be- 
fore Jokneam," mentioned in Josh. xix. 11, as the boundary 
between the tribes of Zebulon and Issachar. 

III. The brook Kanah, mentioned (Josh. xvi. 8, xvii. 
9, 10,) as the dividing line between the tribes of Ephraim 
and Manasseh, flows from east to west, and falls into the 
Mediterranean. 

IV. The brook Cherith, by which Elijah dwelt, (1 Kings 
xvii. 3, 5,) rose in the north-western region of the plain 
of Jericho, and fell into the Jordan, to the east of the city 
of Samaria. 

V. The water of Jericho, mentioned in Josh. xvi. 1, is no 
doubt the same with the river, mentioned Josh. xv. 7. 
Its source was a spring near Jericho, the same, according 
to Josephus, into which Elisha cast salt and healed the 
water, which before was poisonous. (2 Kings ii. 19 — 22.) 



100 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE, 

VI. In trie deep valley which divides Jerusalem from 
the Mount of Olives, rises the brook Kedron, called also 
Kidron and Cedron, which flows towards the south, and, 
after many windings, falls into the Dead sea. In the sum- 
mer time it is almost dry, but rises above its bed when 
swollen with the winter rains. Over this brook David 
passed, when he fled from his son Absalom ; and our Lord, 
on the night when he was betrayed. (2 Sam. xv. 23, John 
xviii. 1.) It is also mentioned, in 1 Kings xv. 13, 2 Chron. 
xv. 16, xxx. 13, 14. 2 Kings xxiii. 4, 6, 12. 

VII. The brook Besor, (i. e. the cold brook,) is only 
mentioned in 1 Sam. xxx. 9 — 11, as the stream over which 
David passed in pursuit of the Amalekites, who had robbed 
and burnt Ziklag. All that we know of its situation is, 
that it was near the southern boundary. 

VIII. East of the Jordan there are two brooks, which 
are mentioned in the Scriptures. The Jabhok is first men- 
tioned in the history of Jacob, who forded it on his return 
from Mesopotamia to Canaan. It is now called Zerka or 
the Blue River* It rises in Mount Gilead, and after a 
course of a few miles, flows into the Jordan. Its bed is in 
a remarkably deep valley ; but the stream itself is very in- 
considerable. It was formerly the boundary between the 
Ammonites and Amorites. (Num. xxi. 24, Josh. xii. 2, 
Judg. xi. 13, 22.) 

IX. The most considerable stream east of Jordan, is the 
Aruon now called Mujeb, which divides Belkah (once the 
land of the Amonites,) from Caracca, (the ancient Moab.) 
(Num. xxi. 13, 15, Dent. iv. 48, Judg. xi. 21, 22.) This 
stream was the southern boundary of the land of Israel, 
beyond the Jordan. (Deut. iii. 8.) It rises in the mountains 
of Arabia. The margin of the brook is covered with ver- 
dure, but beyond, the banks rise, on either side, into abrupt 
and rugged cliffs. The Arnon is almost dry during the 
summer, but in the winter is an impetuous torrent. 

SPRINGS, WELLS, AND CISTERNS. 

I. When Moses (Deut. viii. 7,) calls the promised land, a 
land of brooks and fountains, he means in comparison with 



PALESTINE. 101 

Egypt and the deserts of Arabia. We have already seen 
that Palestine has but one large river, and not many minor 
streams. Nor does it abound much more in springs. The 
district best supplied is that called the wilderness of John 
the Baptist, which is the only part of the country where 
there are gardens naturally well watered. Many springs 
in Palestine, moreover, are completely dry in summer, to 
which the prophets allude, when they speak of waters that 
fail, (Jer. xv. 18, Isa. Iviii. 11.) This natural scarcity of 
water greatly enhances the value of those districts which 
are well supplied. In such districts the first settlements 
would of course be made ; and hence we find many places 
mentioned in the Scriptures under the names of fountains 
near which they were situated: such as En-Gedi, (Josh. 
xv. 6*2,) En-Gannin, (Josh. xxi. 29,) En-Eglaim, (Ezek. 
xlvii. 10,) and many others, in all which the first syllable 
En is the Hebrew for a spring or fountain. The fountain 
in Jezreel, mentioned 1 Sam. xxix. 1, is probably the same 
called the well of Harod, in Judg. vii. 1. and Jacob's well 
in John iv. 6, 11. It is a few miles south of Nablos, (the 
ancient Shechem,) and is 100 feet deep. The Empress 
Helena erected a magnificent church over the spot, which 
has entirely disappeared. 

II. The want of springs necessarily led to the digging 
of wells. Several were dug by Abraham, in the land of 
the Philistines, and one by Isaac in the valiey of Gerar, 
where, says Moses, they found a well of springing- water. 
(Gen. xxvi. 19.) In those spots where water could not be 
obtained by digging, it was necessary to have recourse to 
cisterns, for the preservation of rain-water. These were 
commonly spacious subterraneous cavities, with a narrow 
mouth, which was generally covered over and concealed 
when the cistern was full. Sometimes, however, the water 
would sink into the earth and leave the cistern dry, as was 
the case with that into which Joseph's brethren cast him. 
(Gen. xxxvii. 22, 24.) In the Psalms, deep calamity is 
often likened to an empty cistern, (translated in our Bible 
pit.) (Ps. Iv. 23, lxxxviii. 6.) In old decayed cisterns, the 
water becomes slimy, or dries up ; on which circumstance, 
the prophet Jeremiah founds a lively metaphor, (ii. 13.) 

III. Not far to the south-east of the Dead sea, there is a 

i2 



102 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

spot which has long* been famous for its medicinal warm 
springs. It was called by the Greeks Caleirhol, and is sup- 
posed by some to have been discovered by Anah. (See Gen. 
xxxvi. 24, where the word translated in our Bible mules, 
also means warm springs, and is so explained in some of 
the most ancient versions.) These springs are mentioned 
bv Josephus, who states, that Herod drank the water for 
his health ; and by Pliny, who describes them at consider- 
able length. There are also medicinal warm springs at Ti- 
berias and Gadara, w-hich, however, are not mentioned in 
the Scriptures/ 

FERTILITY. 

The Land of Canaan is called in Scripture, a land, flow- 
ing with milk and honey ; (Ex. iii. 8, xiii. 5, xxxiii. 3, and 
elsewhere;) a good land; (Deut. iii. 25;) a fat land; (Neh. 
ix. 25, 85;) a pleasant land ; (Ps. cvi. 24, Jer. iii. 19;) a 
glorious land; (Dan. xi. 16, 41 ;) and the glory of all lands ; 
(Ezek. xx. 6.) In modern times, the country being sub- 
jected to the Turkish government, and principally peopled 
by Arab tribes, who do not practise agriculture, no longer 
wears that cultivated aspect which entitled it to the de- 
scriptions given in the passages above quoted. Still, how- 
ever, it is agreed on all hands, that few countries in the 
world have more natural advantages than Palestine, and 
that, with proper cultivation, its soil would produce the 
fruits of every climate in perfection. And even now, not- 
withstanding the neglect of agriculture on the part of the 
inhabitants, some regions of the country are like gardens ; 
and some particular commodities are furnished in such 
plenty as to be exported constantly to foreign parts. Grain, 
pulse, and grapes, are especially abundant. It is worthy 
of remark too, tha,t innumerable herds still feed upon the 
verdant hills of Galilee and in the rich valleys of the Jor- 
dan, while vast swarms of bees make their cells in the trees 
and rocks of the more desert regions ; so that Palestine still 
merits its ancient appellation of a land flowing with milk 
and honey. 

ORIGINAL INHABITANTS. 

When Abraham emigrated to the country which was 
afterwards possessed by his posterity, it was occupied by 



PALESTINE. 103 

the Canaanites. (Gen. xii* 6, xiii. 7.) These, however, 
were not the original inhabitants. Several races of abori- 
gines are mentioned in the Scriptures, as having been ex- 
pelled or exterminated by the Canaanites. 

I. The Avim, who dwelt in the south-west, towards 
Gaza, and were extirpated by the Philistines, a colony 
from Caphtor. (Deut. ii. 23, Jer. xlvii. 4, Amos ix. 7.) 
(See p. 73.) Commonly supposed to be the same with 
Crete. 

II. The Horites, or dwellers in caves, who inhabited 
Mount Seir, (afterwards called Idumea.) These mingled, 
in some measure, with the Canaanites, but were afterwards 
destroyed by the Edomites. (Gen. xiv. 6, xxxvi. 20 — 30, 
Deut. ii. 22.) 

III. The Rephaim or Giants, so called from their extraor- 
dinary stature, who dwelt in the eastern part of Palestine, 
and were subdivided into — 

1. The Emim, whose territories were afterwards called 
the land of Moab. (Gen. xiv. 5, Deut. ii. 9, 10.) 

2. The Zamzvm?nim, whose territories were afterwards 
called the land of the Ammonites, (Deut. ii. 20.) 

3. The Rephaim of Bashan, beyond the Jordan, over 
whom Og reigned, in the days of Moses. This king, we 
are informed, (Deut. iii. 3, &,c.) possessed threescore cities 
fenced with high walls, gates, and bars ; besides unwalled 
towns a great many." In the days of Abraham these Re- 
phaim were conquered by Chedorlaomer king of Elam. 
(Gen. xiv. 5.) They w T ere afterwards driven out and de- 
stroyed, first by the Ammonites and Moabites, and finally 
by Moses. (Deut. iii. 3 — 16.) 

IY. The Anakim or sons of Anak, who were also of gi- 
gantic stature, occupied, in the time of Moses, the region 
between Hebron and Jerusalem. They were at first an 
object of great terror to the Israelites. (Deut. ix. 1, 2.) 
Like the Rephaim, they were subdivided into several clans. 

1. The tribes of Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, who 
dwelt about Hebron. (Num. xiii. 22.) Hebron was of old 
called Arha, from a great man among the Anakim. (Josh, 
xiv. 15.) 



104 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

2. The Anakim, who inhabited the mountainous regions 
of Debir and Anab, and who were destroyed by Joshua, 
(xi. 21.) 

3. The Anakim of Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod, in the land 
of the Philistines. These alone remained in the land after 
the entrance of the Hebrews. (Josh. xi. 22.) 

V. Moses (Gen. xv. 19,) enumerates the Kenites among 
the nations who had possession of Canaan in the time of 
Abraham. At an early period, however, they appear to 
have been driven to the southern border of the Canaanites, 
and mingled with the Midianites. (Judg. iv. 2, 16.) It 
appears from Num. xxiv. 21, 22, that they dwelt in the 
highlands near the Ammonites and Moabites. In the time 
of Saul, they had no fixed residence, but dwelt among the 
Amalekites. (1 Sam. xv. 6.) 

All these aboriginal tribes were either extirpated by, or 
embodied with, the Canaanites or descendants of Canaan, 
the son of Ham. (Gen. x. 6.) Canaan had eleven sons, 
(Gen. x. 15, 19,) from whom descended eleven different 
tribes, called after their names, viz. the Sidonites, the Hit- 
tites, the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgasites, the Hi- 
vites, the Arkites, the Sinites,Ahe Arvadites, the Zemarites, 
and the Hamathites. (See p. 12.) These emigrated at an 
early period from the east, and took possession of the whole 
region " from Sidon unto Gaza." (Gen. x. 19.) Five of 
the tribes, viz. the Sidonites, the Arkites, the Arvadites, 
the Hamathites, and the Sinites, settled in Syria and Phoe- 
nicia ; the remaining six in Canaan, where they formed a 
number of principalities or petty kingdoms, of which Joshua 
(xii. 9 — -24,) enumerates thirty-one. 

In the Scriptures, we find these people mentioned in a 
variety of ways. Sometimes they are called by the general 
name of Canaanites, (Ex. xiii. 11, Deut. xi. 30, Josh. xvii. 
13, 16, 18,) sometimes Canaanites and Perizzites, (Gen. 
xiii. 7,) which last word signifies Lowlanders or inhabitants 
of the plain. Sometimes two of the particular tribes are 
mentioned in connexion with the general name to express 
the whole, (Ex. xxiii. 28,) sometimes four, (Ex. xiii. 5,) 
.sometimes five, (Ex. iii. 8, 17, xxxiii. 2, xxxiv. 11, Josh. 
xii. 8,) sometimes six, (Deut. vii. 1, Josh. iii. 10, Acts 
xiii. 19.) In one passage, (Gen. xv. 19 — 21,) Moses enu- 
merates ten tribes as being in possession of the promised 



PALESTINE. 105 

land, viz. the Kenites, and the Kenizzites ; the Kadmarites, 
the Hittites, the Pefizzites, and the Rephaim ; the Amor- 
ites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites. 
Three of these, however, the Kenites, the Kenizzites, and 
Rephaim, were the remains of old aboriginal tribes, who at 
the time of Abraham's migration from the east, had coa- 
lesced with their Canaanitish conquerors. A few words will 
now be necessary in relation to the geographical position 
occupied by the six tribes of Canaanites who settled within 
the bounds of Palestine 



, I. The Hivites dwe t in the north, at the foot of Mount 
Hermon, till, with the other northern tribes, they were 
overthrown by Joshua; (xi. 2, 3;) nor were they even then 
wholly expelled ; for in Judg. iii. 3, we find mention of 
" the Hivites that dwelt in Mount Lebanon, from Baal- 
Hermon unto the entering in of Hamath." That they were 
not exterminated at the time of David, appears from 2 Sam. 
xxiv. 7, and 1 Kings ix. 20. The Shechemites and Gibeon- 
ites were also Hivites, as we learn from Gen. xxxiv. 2, and 
Josh. xi. 19. 

II. The Jebusites had possession of the mountainous re- 
gion about Jerusalem, as well as of Jerusalem itself, which 
was at first called Jebusi or Jebus. (Josh. xi. 3, xv. 8, 63, 
xviii. 28.) The Benjamites, to whom this region was 
allotted, " did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited 
Jerusalem ; but the Jebusites dwelt with the children of 
Benjamin, in Jerusalem. " until David took possession of 
the city. (2 Sam. v. 8, 8.) And even after that event, the 
Jebusites were suffered to reside there unmolested, as we 
find David (2 Sam. xxiv. 23, 24,) purchasing of Araunah, 
the Jebusite prince, the ground upon which the temple 

was afterwards erected. 

■ • 

III. The Amorites, in the time of Abraham, dwelt in 
Zezon-Tamar, (Gen. xiv. 7.) afterwards called Engedi, 
west of the Dead sea, and south-west of Jerusalem. After- 
wards, however, they extended themselves over the whole 
mountainous region in the south of Canaan, between the 
Mediterranean and the Dead sea, which was on that ac- 
count called the mountain of the Amorites, though it after- 



106 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

wards took the name of the Mountains of Judah. (Deut. i. 
19, 20, Num. xiii. 29, Josh. xi. 3.) 

The name Amorites is sometimes used for Canaanites in 
general, (Gen. xv. 16,) and sometimes in a more restricted 
sense for those who inhabited the mountains of the south. 
(Josh. x. 5, 6, 12.) That the Amorites had extended them- 
selves considerably at an early period, is apparent from the 
fact, that they ' ' forced the children of Dan into the moun- 
tain and would not suffer them to come down to the valley, 5 ' 
and that they " would dwell in Mount Heres and Shade- 
bim," which places belonged to the tribe of Ephraim. 
(Judg. i. 34, 35.) Before the time of Moses, the Amorites 
had passed the Jordan, and founded these two kingdoms, 
the most northerly of which was called Bash an. The other 
at first reached only to the Jabhok southward ; but the 
Amorites, under their king Sihon, crossed that stream, and 
drove out the Ammonites and Moabites from their posses- 
sions. (Num. xxi. 13, 24, 26, xxxii. 33, 39, Deut. iv. 46, 
47, xxxi. 4, Josh. ix. 10.) After this, the Jabbok was 
the southern boundary of the Amorites, till they were con- 
quered and expelled by the Israelites, who maintained pos- 
session of the land, notwithstanding the remonstrances of the 
Ammonites. (Judg. xi. 8.) (See p. 49.) 

IV. The Hittites dwelt near Hebron, in the time of 
Abraham, who bought a cave from them in that quarter, 
(Gen. xxiii. 3—30, xxv. 9, 10.) Their territory seems 
also to have reached as far as Beersheba; for while Isaac 
was residing there, Esau married two Hittite women. (Gen. 
xxvi. 34, xxvii. 46.) 

In the time of Moses, as we learn from the statement of 
the spies, the Hittites dwelt with the Amorites in the 
Mountains of Judah. (Num. xiii. 29.) When the Israel- 
ites took possession of the land, the Hittites appear to have 
removed further north ; for, in Judg. i. 26, the region about 
Bethel, in the tribe of Ephraim, is called " the land of the 
Hittites." That they continued, even after the conquest, to 
maintain some degree of independence, appears from the 
facts, that Uriah one of David's generals, was a Hittite ; (2 
Sam. xi. 3, 6 ;) that Solomon was the first who made the 
Hittites tributary, (1 Kings ix. 20 ;) that he had Hittite 
women among his wives and concubines ; (1 Kings xi. 1 ;) 
and finally, that in the books of Kings (1 K. x. 29, 2 K. 



PALESTINE. 107 

vii. 6,) we read of Kings of the Hittites. Even after the 
return of the Hebrews from captivity, we find (Ezra ix. 1, 
2,) the Hittites mentioned among the nations with whom 
the Jews intermarried. 

V. VI. The precise location ot the Zemarites is uncer- 
tain. The Girgashites dwelt between the Hivites and the 
Jebusites. The name Perizzites is applied in Scripture to 
the inhabitants of different and distant regions. Thus in 
Gen. xiii. 7, it denotes those who dwelt between Bethel 
and Ai ; and in Gen. xxxiv. 30, the inhabitants of Shechem 
and the surrounding country. In Josh. xvii. 15, a part of 
the territory of the children of Joseph is called the land of 
the Perizzites ; while in Judges i. 4, 5, we find them resid- 
ing within the bounds of Judah. It is probable, therefore, 
that it is not the proper name of any tribe, but signifies 
Lowlanders or dwellers in the plain, which is, in fact, the 
strict meaning of the word. 

The Canaanites, like their neighbours the Phenicians, 
appear to have made considerable advances in refinement 
and the arts. Moses (Deut. vi. 10, 11,) describes the land 
as one abounding in goodly cities, houses full of all good 
things, wells, vineyards, and olive-trees. Like the Sy- 
rians and Phenicians, too, they could not form one body 
politic, but split themselves into a great variety of petty 
principalities. Their government appears in the earliest 
times to have been aristocratical, with a chief of very limit- 
ed authority. When Abraham wished to make a pur- 
chase from Ephron the Hittite, it was necessary that the 
bargain should be made in an assembly of the people. 
(Gen. xxiii.) And Hamor the Hivite was unable to make 
any stipulation with the sons of Jacob, till the men of 
Shechem were consulted. (Gen. xxxiv.) Whether the 
kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboim, and Zoar, 
were Canaanites, is now uncertain. In the time of Moses, 
the land was divided into thirty-one principalities, as we 
read in Josh. xii. 9. Feuds would of course be frequent 
among these numerous communities ; and in Judg. i. 7, we 
find Adoni-bezek saying : " Threescore and ten kings, hav- 
ing their thumbs and great toes cut off, gathered their meat 
under my table." Some of these chiefs appeared to have 
exercised authority over others. Thus Adoni-zedek, king 
of Jerusalem, when he heard that the Gibeonites had made 



108 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE, 

peace with Israel, summoned four other kings to march with 
him against Gibeon. (Josh. x. 1 — 4.) And immediately- 
after wards Jabin, king of Hazor, did the same. (Josh, xi, 
1—3.) 

DIVISION OF THE LAND AMONG THE TWELVE TRIBES 

OF ISRAEL. 

When the Israelites took possession of the land of Ca- 
naan, it was divided into twelve parts, according to the 
number of the tribes. The Levites, however, had no por- 
tion assigned to them with their brethren, except forty- 
eight cities, scattered through the territories of the other 
tribes. (Num. xxxv. 2, Josh, xxi.) Still, the number was 
complete ; for the children of Joseph w r ere divided into two 
tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh ; because Jacob had adopted 
both the sons of Joseph and admitted both to equal right 
with his own children. (Gen. xlviii. 5, xiv. 4.) 

According to the command received by Moses, (Num. 
xxvi. 52 — 56, Josh. xiv. 2,) the whole land was to be di- 
vided among the tribes by lot ; not equally, but in propor- 
tion to their strength and numbers. This mode of distri- 
bution, however, was adopted in relation only to nine 
tribes and a half. For before the conquest of the country 
west of Jordan, the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and half the 
tribe of Manasseh, settled on the other side. (Num. xxxii. 
Josh. xiii. 7.) This arrangement was requested by the 
Reubenites and Gadites, on account of the number of their 
flocks, and the excellence of the pastures in that region. 
Their request was granted, on condition that they should 
assist their brethren in the conquest of the land before they 
took up their abode beyond the river. (Num. xxxii. 17, 
&,c.) As we find no mention of any application of the 
same kind being made by the Manassites, it is probable 
that Moses of his own accord assigned to half of them their 
place east of the Jordan ; partly because the Reubenites and 
Gadites were not numerous enough for the entire occu- 
pation and defence of that large region, and partly because 
the Manassites had assisted largely in the conquest of it. 
(Num. xxxii. 39, 40.) As they were not able, however, 
to expel the old inhabitants entirely, (Josh. xiii. 13,) only 
half the tribe could be provided for on that side of the 
river. 



PALESTINE. 109 

In describing the geographical position of the tribes, we 
shall pursue the order of time in which they obtained pos- 
session of their territories ; and shall therefore begin with 
the two tribes and a half who settled east of Jordan. 

I. Of these, the most numerous was that of Reuben, whose 
boundary, as we read in Josh. xiii. 15, was " from Aroer, 
that is on the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that 
is in the midst of the river, [i. e. on an island in the midst 
of it,] and all the plain by [or unto] Medeba." The terri- 
tory of this tribe was divided by the Arnon, from the de- 
serts of Arabia on the east, and the land of Moab on the 
south. It was bounded on the west by the Jordan, and on 
the north by the land of Gad. This region, now called 
Belkah, is still celebrated, as of old, for the richness of its 
pastures, and the multitudes of cattle, sheep, and goats, 
which it supports. 

In Num. xxxii. 3, &c. and Josh. xiii. 16 — 20, seven- 
teen cities are enumerated, which were situated within the 
bounds of the tribe of Reuben. The ruins of some of 
these places are still visible, and retain the ancient names. 
Among these are — 

1. Elaleh, (Num. xxxii. 3, 37, Isa. xv. 4. xvi. 9, Jer. 
xlviii. 34,) now called Elaal, which lies in ruins on the 
top of a hill overlooking the whole plain, and abounds in 
cisterns and the foundations of old houses. 

2. Heshbon, the ancient royal city of the Amorites, (Num 
xxi. 26,) now called Heshban, near which are wells and 
ponds hewn out of the solid rock, and alluded to in Sol. 
Song vii. 4, (" thine eyes are like the fish-pools in Hesh- 
hon.") This city is mentioned in Josh. xiii. 26, xxi. 39, 
among those belonging to the tribe of Gad. At a later pe- 
riod, it was in the hands of the Moabites. (Isa. xv. 4. Jer. 
xlviii. 2.) 

3. Baal'Meon, (Josh. xiii. 17',) now called Mium. 

4. Medaba, (Josh. xiii. 16,) now called Madaba, situated 
on the remains of an ancient well-paved causeway. There 
is no stream, however, in the neighbourhood. Here also 
are ponds and reservoirs, and the ruins of a temple. 

5. Kirjathaim, (Josh. xiii. 19,) now called El Thaim, one 
of the oldest cities east of Jordan. It was inhabited in early 
times by the Emims one of the aboriginal tribes. (Gen. xiv. 
5.) It was afterwards in possession of the Moabites, and, 

K 



110 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

having* suffered much in war, was rebuilt by the Reuben- 
ites, who seized upon it. Shortly before the destruction 
of Jerusalem by the Chaldees, it was again taken by the 
Moabites. (Jer. xlviii. 23, Ezek. xxv. 9.) 

6. Dibon is mentioned, Josh. xiii. 17, among the cities 
of Reuben ; but in Num. xxxiii. 45, is called Dibon- gad, 
because rebuilt by the children of Gad. (xxxii. 34.) In 
Isa. xv. 9, it is called Dimon, and as late as the last centu- 
ry was called by both names indifferently, the letters m and 
b being interchangeable. 

7. Aroer, one of the land-marks of the tribe of Reuben, 
(Josh. xiii. 25,) now called Araair, situated on the brook 
Arnon. There was another city of this name on the Jab- 
bok, belonging to the tribe of Gad. (Josh. xiii. 25.) 

8. Jahaz, (Isa. xv. 4,) where Sihon king of the Amorites, 
was overthrown, (Num. xxi. 23, Deut. ii. 32,) must have 
been situated on the borders of the land of the Amorites, 
towards the desert. 

II. The tribe of Gad occupied the northern part of the 
land of Gilead ; bounded on the north by the brook Jabbok, 
on the west by the Jordan, and on the south by the terri- 
tory of the sons of Reuben. This region is said (Joshua 
xiii. 25,) to have been half the land of the children of Am- 
mon, who had possessed it of old, until dispossessed by the 
Amorites ; but were so far from relinquishing their claims 
upon it, that they formally demanded it of the Israelites, 
three hundred years after, during the administration of 
Jephthah, (Judg. xi. 26,) who rejected the claim, on the 
ground that the Israelites had taken the land from the 
Amorites, not the Ammonites. 

The cities of this region are called, in Joshua xiii. 25, 
the cities of Gilead, i. e. of Upper or North Gilead — the 
southern portion belonging to Reuben. 

We have no such enumeration of the cities of Gad, as 
of those within the bounds of Reuben. But by a compari- 
son of Joshua xiii. 25 — 27, with Numbers xxxii. 34 — 36, 
we obtain a list of thirteen fenced cities and sheep-folds, 
(i. e. villages occupied by herdsmen and shepherds,) rebuilt 
by the Gadites. 

Aroer, on the Jabbok, is described in Josh. xiii. 25, as 
lying before Rahbah, the capital of the Ammonites. It is 
mentioned in 2 Sam. xxiv. 5, where we read, that the men 



PALESTINE. Ill 

whom David sent to number Israel, " passed over Jordan, 
and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that 
lieth in the midst of the city of Gad, and towards Jazer." 
This river of Gad was the Jabbok, near which the ruins 
of Jazer are still visible. 

The ruins of Beth-nimrah (Num. xxxii. 36,) now bear the 
name of Nimrein. Beth-haran, mentioned in the same 
verse, was afterwards called Livias, after the wife of Au- 
gustus Csesar, and Julias, after the wife of the Emperor 
Tiberius. 

Mahanaim, or the host, so called because Jacob here saw 
.a host of angels, (Gen. xxxii. 2,) lay on the borders of Ma- 
nasseh, upon the northern bank of the brook Jabbok, 
and was one of the cities assigned to the Levites out of the 
tribe of Gad, (Josh. xxi. 38, 1 Chron. vi. 80.) This city 
Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, selected as his royal residence, 
after his father's death, (2 Sam. ii. 8, 12, 29,) and in it, he 
was murdered. (2 Sam. iv. 5 — 8.) To this city, also, Da- 
vid fled before Absalom. (2 Sam. xvii. 24, 27, 1 Kings ii. 
8.) Here resided one of the twelve officers appointed by- 
king Solomon to provide victuals for the royal household. 
(1 Kings iv. 14.) 

Ramoth Gilead, or Mizpah in Gilead, (Judg. xi. 29,) was 
likewise one of the Levite cities, (Josh. xxi. 38, 1 Chron. 
vi. 80,) as well as a city of refuge. * (Deut. iv. 43. Joshua 
xx. 8.) It was situated not far from the Jabbok, about fif- 
teen Roman miles south-west of Philadelphia, or Rabbah. 
This city was the residence of Jephthah. (Judg. xi. 34.) 
It was taken by the Syrians, in the reign of Ahab ; and was 
the scene of a battle between Ahab and the king of Syria, 
in which the former was mortally wounded. (1 Kings 
xxii. 29.) 

III. The territory of the half tribe of Manasseh lay north 
of that of Gad, and east of Jordan ; but without any well- 
defined limits towards the north and east. This region is 
called in Josh. xiii. 30, 31, all Bashan and half of Gilead. 
The word Gilead appears to have been used in a wide 
sense, to denote the whole region north of the Jabbok, of 
course including Bashan, which is indeed called in Deut. 

* For an account of the nature of these cities, see Nevin's Antiquities, 
(Am. S. School Union's edition,) vol. 1. p. 257. 



112 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE, 

iii. 13, the rest of Gilead. This name, too, appears to 
have been applied to the Manassites themselves, as being 
the inhabitants of the conntry. (Judg. v. 17.) 

It is stated in Josh. xiii. 30, that the cities of Bashan 
were threescore. Of these, however, only two are there 
mentioned, (v. 31,) Edrei and Ashtaroth, The ruins of the 
former still remain, under the name of Draa. Ashtaroth 
is probably the same with the modern Mezaraib, a town 
with a castle on the great route of the pilgrims from Da- 
mascus to Mecca. 

The remaining cities of Bashan are called by the general 
name of the towns of Jair, (Josh. xiii. 30,) from Jair, wha 
was of the tribe of Judah on the father's side, and a Ma- 
nassite on the mother's. This name was given, because 
Jair took possession of the region, on the invasion of the 
country. (Num. xxxii. 40, 41. Deut. iii. 1% 13, 14.) 

In Judges x. 3, 4, however, it is stated, that Abimelech 
was succeeded, as judge, by one Jair, who M had thirty 
sons that rode on thirty ass-colts, and they had thirty cities, 
which are called Havoth-jair unto this day, which are in 
the land of Gilead." 

Kenath, mentioned in Num. xxxii. 42, 1 Chron. ii. 23, 
though now in ruins, still bears the name of Kahuat. It is 
situated on a brook of the same name, and exhibits the re- 
mains of splendid edifices. 

Salcah, mentioned Deut. iii. 10, Josh. xii. 5, xiii. 11, 
1 Chron. v. 11, is now called Salchat. It is on the border 
of the wilderness, and has a round tower or castle on the 
top of a hill, which commands a very extensive view. 

After the death of Moses, Joshua having brought the 
children of Israel across the Jordan, and carried on a war 
with the inhabitants of Canaan, with unvarying success for 
seven years, proceeded to the task of distributing the land 
among the tribes, by lot. He found, however, on inquiry, 
that the extent of territory already conquered, was barely 
sufficient for two tribes and a half. He, therefore, assigned 
portions, at this time, only to Judah and Ephraim, and the 
half tribe of Manasseh. (Josh. xv. 1, xvi. 1, 4.) 

IV. The portion of the tribe of Judah, was the southern 
extremity of Palestine, and occupied the whole breadth of 
the country, from the Jordan to the sea. It was bounded 
on the east, by the Dead Sea 3 on the south by the land of 



PALESTINE. 113 

Edom and of Amalek, and by the wilderness of Kadesh- 
Barnea, which formed a part of the great wilderness of Sin ; 
on the west, by the Mediterranean ; and on the north, by 
a line running from the mouth of the Jordan, through the 
valley of Aehor, Gilgal, the valley of Hinnom, the valley 
of Rephaim, Kirjath-jearim, Beth-shemesh, Zimnah, and 
Ekron, to the Mediterranean Sea. This northern boun- 
dary was afterwards somewhat altered, when portions were 
assigned, in that quarter, to the tribes of Benjamin and Dan. 
(Josh, xviii. 11—28, xix. 40—48.) 

The cities belonging to the tribe of Judah are enumerated 
in Joshua xv. 21 — 62, where they are divided into four 
classes. 1. "The uttermost cities, toward the coast of 
Edom, southward.' ' (v. 21.) 2. The cities " in the valley," 
(v. 33,) or more properly the plain or flat country, i. e. the 
Mediterranean coast. 3. The cities " in the mountains," 
(v. 48,) i. e. in the interior. 4. The cities "in the wilder- 
ness," (v. 61,) i. e. on the shore of the Dead sea. 

The number of the names recorded in this passage is 125 ; 
but, as the sums stated by Joshua himself in v. 32, 36, 41, 
44, 46, 51, 54, 57, 59, 60, 62, amount only to 115, it is 
probable that some of the places mentioned were not cities, 
but merely considerable villages ; which is rendered more 
probable by the expression used in the verses just referred 
to — " cities with their villages." 

Some of the cities here enumerated, though situated 
within the bounds of Judah, do not appear to have been 
inhabited by Israelites. Ashdod, Gaza, Askalon, and 
Ekron, continued in the hands of the Philistines. We 
learn, indeed, from Judg. i. 18, that the tribe of Judah did, 
at one time, seize upon the last three mentioned. But they 
must have been soon retaken, for they are ever after men- 
tioned as cities of the Philistines. 

Subsequently, a part of the territory thus assigned to the 
tribe of Judah, was allotted to Simeon and Dan, as will be 
seen hereafter. 

V. It appears from the sixteenth chapter of Joshua, 
(1 — 4,) that one portion was originally assigned to the 
" children of Joseph" in common ; and though the distinct 
moieties of the tribe of Ephraim and the half tribe of Ma- 
nasseh, are afterwards laid off, (xvi. 5 — 10, xvii. 1 — 11,) 
they still appear to have been somewhat intermingled. 
k2 



114 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

Joshua says expressly, (xvi. 9,) that there were " separate 
cities for the children of Ephraim, among the inheritance 
of the children of Manasseh." And again, (xvii. 8,) that 
" Manasseh had the land of Tappuah ; [i. e. the region about 
Tappuah ;] but Tappuah [itself] on the border of Manasseh , 
belonged to the children of Ephraim. We are informed,, 
however, (Josh. xvii. 9, 10,) that the river or brook Kctr 
nah, was the boundary between Ephraim and Manasseh* 
" Southward it was Ephraim' s, and northward it was Ma- 
nasseh J s." 

Though the description given of the territories of 
Ephraim (Josh. xvi. 5 — 8,) is somewhat obscure, we gather 
from it, that they extended to the north of Jericho as far 
as the brook Kanah, stretching across the whole breadth of 
the land, from the Mediterranean to the Jordan : (xvi. 7. 8.) 

The separate portion of Manasseh was bounded, on the 
north, by the land of Asher, on the east by that of Issachar, 
on the south by the brook Kanah, dividing it from Ephraim, 
and on the west by the Mediterranean. (Josh. xvii. 7, &c.) 
Within this territory, as we have already mentioned, there 
were some cities belonging to the Ephraimites. By way 
of compensation, six cities, with their villages, were as- 
signed to the Manassites, lying within the bounds of Is- 
sachar and Asher. (Josh. xvii. 11.) But " the children of 
Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities ; 
for the Canaanites would dwell in that land. Yet it came 
to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, 
that they put the Canaanites to tribute ; but did not utterly 
drive them out." 

After the children of Judah and Joseph were provided 
with their portions, a considerable time appears to have 
elapsed, before the remaining seven tribes were located and 
settled. In the eighteenth chapter of Joshua (1 — 7,) we 
read, that Joshua assembled the people at Shiloh, and hav- 
ing set up the tabernacle there, said to the seven tribes, 
" How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which 
the Lord God of your fathers hath given you?" He then 
proposed, that twenty-one men should be selected, three 
from each of the unsettled tribes, to make a survey and par- 
tition of the land ; which measure was adopted. From the 
report of these surveyors, it appeared that the territory 
which had been assigned to the children of Judah and Jo- 
seph, was too great in proportion to the residue of the land. 



PALESTINE. 115 

and, at tne same time, larger than they needed or could 
occupy. A part of it was, therefore, cut off, and thrown 
into the common stock, which was now to be distributed 
by lot. In making this partition, they appear to have de- 
termined, first, by lot, the region in which the tribe should 
have its portion, and then to have fixed its limits, accord- 
ing to the quality of the land, and the population of the 
tribe. 

VI. The lot fell first upon the tribe of Benjamin, who 
obtained a settlement " between the children of Judah and 
the children of Joseph," (Josh, xviii. 11,) i. e. a part was 
taken from each of those tribes, to make up the portion of 
the Benjamites. 

Among the twenty cities belonging to the tribe of Ben- 
jamin, which are enumerated, Josh, xviii. 21 — 28, we find 
Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, This place, however, was not 
in the possession of the Israelites, till the time of David. 
(S Sam. v. 6.) 

The second lot came forth to Simeon, and their inheri- 
tance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah. 
(Josh. xix. 1.) There was not, however, any particular 
district, within the bounds of Judah, allotted to the Simeon- 
ites. They merely possessed nineteen cities, scattered 
through the territory of that tribe. These are enumerated, 
Josh. xix. 2 — 7. In the reign of Hezekiah, the tribe of 
Simeon found it necessary to procure additional settlements, 
in Mount Seir, south-east of Judah. 

VII. The boundaries of the land of Zebulon are given in 
Josh. xix. 10 — 16 ; but as the situation of the places there 
mentioned as land-marks, are now unknown, the precise 
location of this tribe is, of course, uncertain. From a com- 
parison of the limits of the neighbouring tribes, however, it 
is probable that Zebulon was bounded on the north and 
west by Asher, on the north-east by Naphtali, and extend- 
ed as far south as Mount Tabor. That it bordered upon 
the sea of Gennesaret, is evident from Matt. iv. 13, where 
Capernaum is said to be upon the sea-coast, in the border of 
Zabulon and Nephtalim. Twelve cities, with their vil- 
lages, are enumerated, (Josh. xix. 10 — 14,) as belonging to 
the tribe of Zebulon. 



116 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

VIII. The portion of Issachar was bounded, on the 
north, by that of Zebulon ; on the west, by that of Manas- 
seh ; on the south, by that of Ephraim ; on the east, by the 
river Jordan. The district thus laid off, was in the form 
of a triangle. 

Joshua (xix. 18 — -22,) enumerates sixteen cities belonging 
to the tribe of Issachar. These, however, were probably 
only the most considerable ; as two of the cities allotted to 
the Levites within the bounds of Issachar are omitted in 
this list, and as sixteen would scarcely be sufficient for a 
tribe which sent above 64,000 men to war. 

IX. The territory of the tribe of Asher was a small tract 
of land on the Mediterranean coast ; bounded, on the east, 
by Zebulon, Issachar, and Naphtali. Its southern extrem- 
ity was a little to the south of Carmel ; its northern not far 
from Sidon in Phenicia. (Josh. xix. 24 — 29.) 

Of the twenty -four cities, belonging to this tribe, some 
were never occupied by Israelites. In Judges i. 31, we 
find seven mentionedj from which the Canaanites had not 
been driven out. 

X. To the tribe of Naphtali was assigned a narrow tract 
of land reaching from the land of Asher on the west, to 
the Jordan on the east. On the south, it was bounded by 
the tribe of Zebulon. (Josh. xix. 34.) This was the most 
northerly of all the tribes. Within its bounds was the city 
of Dan, commonly used in Scripture to denote the northern 
extremity of Palestine. It is not indeed mentioned among 
the cities of Naphtali, in Joshua xix. 35—38, because it 
belonged, at that time, to the Sidonians, and bore the name 
of Laish. It was afterwards conquered by an army of Dan- 
ites, who changed its name to that of their own tribe. 

XI. The last and least portion assigned, was that of the 
tribe of Dan. Like that of Benjamin, it lay between the 
territories of Judah and Joseph, and was bounded on the 
east by the land of Benjamin, on the west by the Mediter- 
ranean. 

The Danites do not appear, at any time, to have been in 
full possession of the land allotted to them. Ekron, one of 
their cities, (Josh. xix. 43,) is mentioned (1 Sam. v. 10, 2 
Kings i. 2,) as a city of the Philistines. And we read, in 



PALESTINE. ] 17 

Judg. i. 34, 35, that "the Amorites forced the children of 
Dan into the mountain ; for they would not suffer them to 
come down in the valley." Before the tribe of Dan had 
possession of their territory, a part of them, as we have al- 
ready mentioned, took the city of Laish on the northern 
frontier of the Holy Land. (Judg. xviii.) 

It has already been mentioned, that the tribe of Levi had 
no part of the land assigned to them as their exclusive por- 
tion ; but were allowed forty-eight cities, with the adja- 
cent fields for the pasturage of their cattle, lying within the 
limits of the other tribes ; each of which gave up, for this 
purpose, more or less, according to their size and population. 
Most of these places were in the neighbourhood of the sanc- 
tuary ; and thirteen of them, (all situated in the tribe of 
Judah and Benjamin,) were appropriated, by lot, to the 
priests. (Josh. xxi. 4, &,c.) 

DIVISION OF THE LAND UNDER THE KINGS OF JUDAH 

AND ISRAEL 

After the death of Solomon, ten of the tribes threw off 
their allegiance to his son, and established a new kingdom, 
called the kingdom of Israel ; while the tribes which ad- 
hered to Rehoboam, from that time bore the name of the 
kingdom of Judah. (1 Kings xii. 19, 20.) 

The kingdom of Israel comprehended all the country 
east of Jordan, and the northern districts on the other side. 
The kingdom of Judah consisted of the tribe of that name, 
and the southern part of the land of Benjamin. That the 
northern possessions of the latter tribe belonged to the new 
kingdom, is evident, from the fact, that Bethel and Ramah, 
cities of Benjamin, were subject to the authority of Jero- 
boam. (1 Kings xii. 29, xv. 17.) On the other hand, such 
possessions of the tribe of Simeon as lay within the bounds 
of Judah, remained in the possession of the latter. Thus, 
Beer-sheba, Hormah, Ziklag, which, in Joshua xix. 2 — 5, 
are recorded among the cities of Simeon, are, in I Kings xix. 
3, 1 Sam. xxvii. 6, xxx. 30, mentioned as belonging to the 
kingdom of Judah. So also Zorah and Ajalon, were cities 
of Dan, (Josh. xix. 41, 42,) but remained in the possession 
of the kings of Judah. (2 Chron. xi. 10.) 

After the return of the Jews from captivity to the land 
of their fathers, the ancient distribution of the country 



118 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

among the twelve tribes, could no longer be kept up. Those 
who availed themselves of the permission granted them by 
Cyrus, to return to Palestine, were principally of the tribes 
of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi. These, it is true, resumed 
their ancient possessions, and observed their ancient limits. 
But of the other Israelites, very few returned. The greater 
part of them chose rather to continue in the land where 
they had been so long compelled to dwell. The few who 
did return, settled within the bounds of Benjamin and Ju- 
dah, and amalgamated with them. Besides, during the 
200 years which had elapsed since the ten tribes were car- 
ried into captivity, the ancient land-marks and bounding 
lines must have been completely obliterated and forgotten. 

It has been inferred from Matt. iv. 13, that the ancient 
division of the country still prevailed in the time of Christ. 
It is evident, however, that the Evangelist mentions the 
situation of Capernaum according to the ancient geographi- 
cal divisions, merely to show the precise correspondence of 
the fact which he records, with the prediction of the prophet. 
And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, 
which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and 
Nephthalim. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken 
by Esaias the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon and 
the land of Nephthalim, by the w\ay of the sea, Galilee of tlie 
Gentiles, fyc* 

In no other part of the New Testament is the situation 
of any place described by a reference to the ancient distri- 
bution of the land among the tribes. 

DIVISIONS OF PALESTINE UNDER THE ROMANS. 

How Palestine was divided while subject to the kings 
of Persia, we have now no means of ascertaining. Under 
the Syrian kings, the region west of Jordan was divided 
into Judea, Samaria, and Galilee; which division was 
adopted and continued by the Romans. The country east 
of Jordan bore the Greek name Peraea, derived from a 
preposition which signifies beyond. As this is the division 
recognised in the New Testament, as well as by the Greeks 
and Romans, by Josephus, and by some of the early Chris- 
tian writers, we shall adopt it as our guide, in describing 
more minutely the particular parts of the country. In so 
doing, we shall begin with Peraea, or the region beyond 



PALESTINE. 119 

Jordan — then proceed to the districts west of Jordan, pass- 
ing from north to south — 1. Galilee, 2. Samaria, 3. Judea. 

I. PERAEA. 

This name was used to denote, sometimes the whole re- 
gion beyond Jordan, sometimes a particular district of that 
region. In the former sense, it included the districts of 
Trachonitis, Ituraea, Gaulanitis, Auranitis, Batanaea, and 
Peraea proper, as well as the greater part of Decapolis. 

1. Trachonitis derived its name from two remarkable 
mountains, called by the Greeks Trachones. It extended 
northward to the district of Damascus, and southward to the 
city of Bostra. It was bounded on the west by Gaulanitis, 
on the east by Auranitis and the deserts of Arabia. 

The greater part of Trachonitis was not strictly within 
the bounds of Palestine. It is, nevertheless, a proper sub- 
ject of sacred geography, as it is mentioned in Luke iii. 1, 
as a part of the tetrarchy of Philip, to whom it was left by 
his father Herod the Great. Herod himself had obtained 
it, together with all the northern parts of Peraea, from the 
Romans, on condition of his extirpating the robbers by 
whom it was infested. 

A part of Trachonitis, stretching from Damascus west- 
wards, was subject, during the reign of the latter Syrian 
kings, to Lysanias, an independent chief, who resided at 
Abila. This region is called, in Luke iii. 1, Abilene, 

2. Ituraea was so called from Jetur, one of the sons of 
Ishmael, (Gen. xxv. 15, 1 Ghron. i. 31,) by whose de- 
scendants it was once inhabited. In the time of Jotham, 
king of Judah, an attack was made upon this people, by 
the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manas- 
seh, residing beyond the Jordan, who took possession of 
the land, and obtained much spoil, and a great number of 
captives. (1 Chron. v. 19.) 

3.. Gawlonitis, so called from the ancient city of Golan, 
(Deut. iv. 43, Josh. xx. 8, xxi. 27,) was the north-western 
part of the old kingdom of Bashan. It was bounded, on 
the north, by Mount Hermon ; on the east, by Auranitis ; 
on the south, by the brook Jarmuk ; and on the west, by 



120 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

the sea of Tiberias, A part of this region stili bears the 
name of lolan. 

4. Auranitis, so called from Hauran ; (Ezek. xlvii. 16 ? 
18 ;) was bounded, on the west by Trachonitis, on the 
south by Batanaea, and on the east by the desert. It is 
now called Hauran. 

5. Batanaea was the southern part of the old kingdom of 
Bash an, reaching southward to the Jabbok. A part of the 
region still bears the corrupted name of El-Bottein. 

6. Peraea, properly so called, was very nearly the same 
with the old land of the Ammonites, afterwards called 
Gilead. It lay like a peninsula between three streams, 
being bounded, on the north by the Jabbok, on the south 
by the Anion, on the west by the Jordan. 

Decapolis, a Greek word, signifying the ten cities, which 
is mentioned, Matt. iv. 25, Mark v. 20, does not denote a 
district of country, but ten detached cities, scattered through 
an extensive region. It is not altogether certain what ten 
cities went under this name. The most probable enumera- 
tion is as follows : Scythopolis, Hippo, Gadara, Dion, Pe- 
lea, Gerasa, Philadelphia, Kanatha, Capitolias, and Ra- 
phana. Only one of these, viz. Scythopolis, was west of 
Jordan ; so that all the rest were within the limits of Pe- 
raea. Most of them belonged in early times to the half- 
tribe of Manasseh ; but after the return from captivity, the 
Jews did not take possession of them. In the time of 
Christ, they were chiefly inhabited by Greeks. 

The places situated within the limits of Peraea, (taking 
the word in the widest sense,) which are mentioned in the 
Scriptures, are the following. 

1. Ccesarea Philippi, near the foot of Mount Hermon, in 
the vicinity of the grotto, in which the river Jordan was 
supposed to rise. This grotto was regarded by the heathen 
as sacred to their god Pan. Hence the city went also by 
the name of Paneas, and is, at this very time, called Banias* 
The place derived its name of Csesarea Philippi, from Au- 
gustus Caesar, to whom there was a temple consecrated 
here ; and from Philip, the son of Herod the Great, who 
built the city. 



PALESTINE. 121 

This city is mentioned twice under this name, in the 
New Testament, (Matt. xvi. 13, Mark viii. 27,) in two 
different accounts of the same occurrence. 

In the neighbourhoood of this city, the conversation 
passed between Jesus and his disciples, in which Peter 
confessed that he was the Son of God. 

It is a very old tradition, that the woman whom Christ 
healed of an issue of blood, (Matt. ix. 20 — 22, Mark v. 
25 — 34, Luke viii. 43 — 48,) was a native of Osesarea Phi- 
lippi, and that she erected a brazen monument in that city 
in token of her gratitude. 

From the time of Constantine the Great, Csesarea Phi- 
Kppi was a Bishop's see, subject to the Patriarch of Antioch. 
It contains, at present, about two hundred houses, and 
is chiefly inhabited by Turks. 

2. Bethsaida, a village on the east bank of the Jordan, 
near the point where that river enters the sea of Tiberias, 
was enlarged by the tetrarch Philip into a city, and re- 
ceived the name of Julias, in honour of Julia, the daughter 
of Augustus Csesar. In the New Testament, however, it 
is called by the old name of Bethsaida. (Luke ix. 10.) To 
the wilderness near this city, Jesus retired, after the death 
of John the Baptist, (ib.,) and there fed live thousand per- 
sons by a miracle. (Luke ix. 10 — 17.) 

There was another .Bethsaida west of Jordan, of which 
we shall speak hereafter. (See p. 129.) 

3. Golan appears to have been a considerable city, as it 
gave name to a district. Nothing, however, is now known 
of its situation, except that it was within the bounds of the 
old kingdom of Bashan; for which reason it is always 
called in the Old Testament Golan in Bashan. 

It was one of the places allotted to the Levites, and also 
one of the cities of refuge. (Deut. iv. 43, Josh. xx. 8, xxi. 
27, 1 Chron. vi. 71.) 

. 4, 5. Edrei and Ashtaroth were the royal cities of the 
old kingdom of Bashan. Respecting these and the towns 
of Jair, see p. 112. 

6. Gadara, the metropolis of Peraea, and a fortified city, 
was situated south-west of Ashtaroth, beyond the brook 
Jarmuk. It was in the form of a triangle, and now lies in 
ruins, the pavements of some of its great streets being still 
visible. It has been wholly deserted, on account of the 
scarcity of water. In the vicinity are famous medicinal 

L 



122 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

warm springs, frequented by multitudes of invalids, from 
the surrounding country. In the region adjacent to this 
city, (i. e. the country of the Gadarenes,) Christ healed two 
men possessed with unclean spirits, which he suffered to 
enter into a herd of swine. (Mark v. 1, &c. Luke viii. 26, 
&c. Matt. viii. 28.) 

7. Bozrah, called by the Greeks and Romans Bostra, 
stood about 24 Roman miles from Edrei. It is commonly 
spoken of in the Old Testament, (Gen. xxxvi. 33, Isaiah 
xxxiv. 6, lxiii. 1, Amos i. 12, Jer. xlix. 13, 22,) as the 
capital city of Edom; but since Jeremiah mentions it 
(xlviii. 24,) as a city of the Moabites, it is probable that it 
was first taken from the children of Ammon by the Edom- 
ites, and afterwards from them by the Moabites, who kept 
possession of it. In later times it was a bishop's see, and 
afterwards a strong hold of the Nestorians. Though for 
the most part in ruins, it is still the largest place in Hau- 
ran or Auranitis. 

8. Jabesh-gilead (Judg. xxi. 8, 9, 12, 14, 1 Sam. xi. 1, 
xxxi. 12, 2 Sam. ii. 4, xxi. 12,) was situated, probably, on 
a small brook still called Jabes, which empties into the Jor- 
dan. In the time of the judges, all the inhabitants of Ja- 
besh, except four hundred virgins, were put to death, be- 
cause they would not join with the rest of Israel, in the 
expedition against Benjamin. (Judges xxi. 8 — 14.) The 
place, however, was not deserted ; for we read, in 1 Sam. 
xi. 1 — 4, of Saul's delivering the inhabitants of Jabesh from 
Nahash, king of the Ammonites, who required that their 
right eyes should be thrust out ; for which benefit they 
showed their gratitude, by rescuing the bodies of Saul and 
Jonathan, when exposed by the Philistines. (1 Sam. xxxi. 
8—13.) 

9. mahanahn. See p. 112. 

10. Lo-debar, mentioned 2 Sam. ix. 4, 5, xvii. 27, was 
probably not far from Mahanaim. 

11. Penuel, the tower of which Gideon broke down, 
(Judges viii. 8, 9, 17,) was built upon the spot where Ja- 
cob saw God face to face, and to which he gave the name 
of Peniel, i. e. the face of God. (Gen. xxxii. 30.) Jeroboam, 
the first king of Israel, rebuilt the place. (1 Kings xii. 25.) 

12. Succoth, or the booths, was a city of Gad, (Josh. xiii. 
27,) erected on the spot where Jacob "built him a house, 
and made booths for his cattle," on his return from Meso- 



PALESTINE. 123 

potamia. (Gen. xxxiii. 17.) The inhabitants of this city, 
as well as those of Penuel, refused to supply Gideon with 
provisions, and were likewise punished by him on his re- 
turn. (Judg. viii. 15.) Near Succoth, the vessels for Solo- 
mon's temple were cast. (1 Kings vii. 46.) 

13. Ramoth-gilead. See p. 111. 

14. Beth-nimrah. See p. 111. 

15. Jazer. See p. 111. 

16. Elaleh. See p. 109. 

17. Heshbon. See p. 109. 

18. Baal-meon. See p. 109. 

19. Medeba. See p. 109. 

20. Kirjathaim. See p. 109. 

21. Dibon. Seep. 110. 

22. Aroer. See p. 110. 

23. Jahaz. See p. 110. 

24. Beth-abara, or the Place of Passage, a ford on the 
Jordan, is mentioned, John i. 28, as the place where John 
was baptizing beyond Jordan.* The Beth-bara mentioned 
in Judges vii. 24, is probably a contraction for Beth-abara. 

25. Shittim or Abel-shittim, one of the places where the 
Israelites sojourned so long before they entered Canaan, 
was situated on the east bank of the Jordan, opposite to 
Jericho. (Num. xxv. 1, xxxiii. 48, 49, Mic. vi. 5.) It 
belonged first to the Moabites, and afterwards to the tribe 
of Reuben. From this place, Joshua sent two spies to 
Jericho. (Josh. ii. 1.) 

26. Beth-jesimoth, or the House of the Desert, which is 
mentioned with Abel-shittim, in Numbers xxxiii. 49, was 
situated on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea, (Josh. xii. 
3,) south-east from Jericho. It passed from the possession 
of the Moabites into that of the tribe of Reuben ; but when 
the latter was carried into captivity by the Assyrians, the 
Moabites regained possession of it, for which reason it is 
mentioned among the cities of Moab, Ezekiel xxv. 9. 

27. Bezer, one of the Levite cities, and also a city of re- 
fuge, stood within the bounds of Reuben. (Josh. xx. 8, xxi. 
36, Deut. iv. 43.) Its precise situation is uncertain. 

*It is the opinion of modern critics, that Beth-abara, in this passage, 
is a mistake in the text for Bethany ; and as the Bethany mentioned by 
John (xi. 18,) cannot be the one, they suppose that there was another of 
the same name, east of Jordan, and directly opposite to the wilderness of 
Jericho. 



124 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE, 

28. Kedemoth was also one of the Levite cities within 
the limits of the tribe of Reuben. (Joshua xiii. 18, xxi. 
37, 1 Chron. vi. 79.) From the wilderness of Kedemoth 
(i. e. in the neighbourhood of Kedemoth) Moses sent mes- 
sengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites, to obtain permission 
to pass through his territories. (Deut. ii. 26.) 

29. Mephaath, which is mentioned in connexion with 
Kedemoth and Bezer, (Josh. xiii. 18, xxi. 37, 1 Chron. vi. 
79,) was probably contiguous to both of them. In later 
times, it passed into the possession of the Moabites. (Jer. 
xlviii. 21.) 

30. Sibmah (Num. xxxii. 38,) was not far from Heshbon. 
It belonged to Reuben ; but after the captivity was retaken 
by the Moabites. (Josh. xiii. 19, Isa. xvi. 8, 9, Jer. xlviii. 
32.) The surrounding region abounded in wine. 

31. Neho, in the neighbourhood of Mount Nebo, now 
called Mount Attarus, derived its name from an idol of 
that name, to whom there was a temple consecrated there. 
(Isa. xlvi. 2.) It was taken by the tribe of Reuben from 
the Moabites, (Num. xxxii. 38,) and retaken by the latter. 
(Isa. xv. 2. Jer. xlviii. 1, 22.) There was another place 
of the same name in the tribe of Benjamin. (Ezra ii. 29, 
Neh. vii. 33.) 

II. GALILEE. 

The name Galilee was given to the northern part of the 
land of Israel west of Jordan. The region so called was 
bounded, on the north, by Anti-Libanus ; on the east, by 
the Jordan and the Sea of Galilee ; on the south, by a line 
drawn from the plain of Esdrelon. through the brook Kishon 
and Mount Tabor, to Scythopolis on the Jordan ; and on 
the west, by a tract of sea-coast reaching from Carmel to 
Tyre, and belonging to Phenicia. 

This province was divided into Upper and Lower Galilee, 
the former lying to the north, and the latter to the south. 
In Upper Galilee, there settled, at an early period, many 
emigrants from Syria, Phenicia, and Arabia, not professing 
the Jewish religion ; for which reason it is called in Isaiah 
(ix. 1,) Galilee of the Gentiles. The whole of Galilee was 
less than Judea, and not much larger than Samaria ; being 
but twenty leagues long, and about ten broad. From the 
words of Christ, (Luke xiii. 33,) "I must walk [or travel] 



PALESTINE. 125 

to-day, and to-morrow, and the day following," &c, some 
have inferred that the part of Galilee where Christ was at 
that time, was distant three days journey from Jerusalem. 

The whole of Galilee, but especially the part contiguous 
to the sea of Tiberias, is described by travellers as a coun- 
try very rich and luxuriant, though no longer cultivated 
with the same zeal and diligence as in former times. 

On the division of Palestine among the twelve tribes, 
Galilee fell to the lot of Issachar, Asher, Zebulon, and 
Naphtali. In the reign of Pekah, king of Israel, the Jew- 
ish inhabitants were carried into captivity by Tiglath Pi- 
leser. king of Assyria. (2 Kings xv. 29.) Those who 
availed themselves of the permission given by Cyrus to re- 
turn to their own land, for the most part settled in Judea. 
Some, however, settled in Galilee among the foreigners and 
gentiles, who had been planted there by the Assyrians, 
and amalgamated with them. This mixed race, however, 
was always regarded with aversion and contempt, by the 
purer Hebrews of Judea. This explains such expressions 
as the following : Can there any good thing come out of 
Nazareth ? (John i. 46.) Search and look, for out of Gali- 
lee ariseth no prophet. (John vii. 52.) And they were all 
amazed, and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are 
not all these which speak, Galileans ? (Acts ii. 7.) The 
Galileans were also distinguished from the Jews, by their 
corrupt dialect, and incorrect pronunciation. Hence the 
servants of Caiaphas said to Peter— Thou art a Galilean, 
and thy speech agreeth thereto, (Mark xiv. 70. See also 
Matt. xxvi. 73.) 

As Galilee was the country where Joseph and Mary 
dwelt, (Matt. xiii. 55, iv. 21,) where Jesus was brought 
up — where he began to teach — where he called his first 
disciples, (Matt. iv. 13, 23, Mark i. 39, Luke iv. 44, viii. 
1, xxiii. 5,) and where he commonly resided, (John vii. 1,) 
Christ himself, and his followers, were called Galileans; 
(Acts i. 11;) which name was long continued, as an ex- 
pression of contempt, among Jews and Gentiles. 

To Galilee belonged the tract of land given by Solomon 
to Hiram, king of Tyre, containing twenty cities ; (1 Kings 
ix. 11;) to which Hiram gave the name of the land of 
CabuL This district was on the north-west border of 
Galilee, and extended as far north as Tyre. 

l2 



126 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE* 

TOWNS, &c. OF GALILEE, 

The most remarkable places of Galilee, which are men- 
tioned in the Scriptures, are as follows, beginning at the 
north :— 

1. Dan is often mentioned in the Bible, as the northern 
extremity of the land, and the place from which the alarm 
was given, when the country was threatened with invasion 
by the Syrians. (Jer. iv. 15, 16, viii. 16.) It was origi- 
nally a Sidonian colony, under the name of Laish or he- 
shem ; and was situated not far to the west of Paneas or 
Csesarea Philippi. The tribe of Dan, finding their allotted 
portion insufficient, a part of them emigrated to the northern 
frontier, and seized upon Laish, to which they gave the 
name of Dan. (Josh. xix. 47, Judg. xviii. 7.) 

Dan appears to have been, from early times, a seat of 
idolatrous worship. The Danite emigrants, who took pos- 
session of it, established there an image which they had 
stolen from Micah ; (Judg. xviii. ;) and Jeroboam, when he 
made his golden calves, to divert the attention of the peo- 
ple from the temple at Jerusalem, set up one in Bethel, and 
the other in Dan, (1 Kings xii. 28, 29,) the two extremi- 
ties of his dominion. 

2. We read in Numbers, (xiii. 21,) that the spies, sent 
out by Moses, " searched the land, from the wilderness of 
Zin unto Rehob." This Rehob is probably the same with 
Beth-rehob in the neighbourhood of Dan. (Judg. xviii. 28.) 
It belonged to the tribe of Asher, (Josh. xix. 28,) who, 
however, were unable to drive out the old inhabitants. 
(Judg. i. 31.) From Josh. xix. 30, it would seem, that there 
was another place of the same name, at no great distance. 

3. Berothah is mentioned (Ezekiel xlviii. 16,) as one of 
the places situated on the northern frontier of the land of 
Canaan. 

4. Kedesh in Galilee in Mount Naphtali, (Josh. xx. 7,) 
or Kedesh-naphiali, (Judg. iv. 6,) so called, to distinguish 
it from other places of the same name, was, at first, the seat 
of one of the petty kings enumerated Joshua xii., and after- 
wards a Levite city and a city of refuge, (Joshua xx. 7, xxi. 



PALESTINE. 127 

3*2,) witliin the bounds of Naphtali, situated between Tyre 
and Caesarea Philippi. It was the residence of Barak, 
(Judg. iv. 6,) and, in later times, one of the first places laid 
waste by Tiglath Pileser. (2 Kings xv. 29.) The name 
Kedesh signifies holy, which may account for the number 
of places so called. 

5. Hazor, situated east of Kedesh, was the seat of Jabin, 
one of the petty kings enumerated Josh. xii. 22 ; who ap- 
pears, from Joshua xi. 10, to have been " the head of all 
those kingdoms." Accordingly, he summoned several of 
the inferior chiefs to combine with him in resisting the in- 
vasion of the Hebrews. Joshua^ however, conquered him 
completely, burnt Hazor, and put the inhabitants to the 
sword. (Josh. xi. 1 — 13.) A hundred and twenty years 
later, we read of another " Jabin, king of Canaan, [or the 
Canaanites,] who reigned in Hazor, the captain of whose 
host was Sisera. 5 ' (Judg. iv. 2.) By him the children of 
Israel were oppressed, till the Lord raised up Deborah and 
Barak to deliver them, who conquered Sisera. (4 — 16.) 

By Solomon, Hazor was fortified, (1 Kings ix. 15,) as a 
defence against invasion ; yet was one of the first places 
taken by Tiglath Pileser. (2 Kings xv. 29.) ■ 

6. Harosheth of the Gentiles was probably not far from 
Hazor. Here Sisera resided. (Judg. iv. 2.) Here he mus- 
tered his troops before the battle, (13,) and here he was 
pursued by the enemy after his defeat. (16.) 

7. Achshaph was the capital of a petty kingdom when 
Joshua invaded Canaan. (Josh. xii. 20.) It afterwards fell 
to the lot of the tribe of Asher. (Josh. xix. 25.) Its pre- 
cise situation is unknown. 

8. Achzib was one of the cities within the bounds of 
Asher, (Josh. xix. 29,) from which they were unable to 
drive out the old inhabitants. (Judges i. 31.) It is now 
called Zib, and is situated on a hill near the sea-coast, north 
of Ptolemais. Another Achzib, in Judah, is mentioned 
Josh. xv. 44, and Mic. i. 14. 

9. Accho was also one of the cities from which the tribe 
of Asher was unable to expel the Canaanites. (Judg. i. 31.) 



128 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

In later times it was called Ptolemais, from Ptolemy, king 
of Egypt, who seized upon it about 100 years before the 
birth of Christ. Under this name it is mentioned repeat- 
edly in the Apocrypha, (1 Mac. v. 15, x. 1, 39, xi. 22, 24, 
xii. 54, 58,) and once in the New Testament. (Acts xxL 
7.) The emperor Claudius constituted Ptolemais a Roman 
colony. In the seventh century it was conquered by the 
Saracens or Arabs. In the eleventh century, it was in the 
hands of the Egyptian sultans, and suffered many vicissi- 
tudes of fortune during the crusades, which began about 
that time, being taken and retaken by the Christians and 
Mohammedans alternately, to both of whom it was impor- 
tant, on account of its fine harbour. At the end of the 
twelfth century, it became the seat of an order of knights, 
called the Knights of St. John, who afterwards removed to 
Cyprus, then to Rhodes, and finally to Malta. From this 
circumstance, the city was called by the French St. Jean 
d'Acre, or Saint John of Acra, a corruption of the old name 
Accho. At the end of the thirteenth century, when the 
Christians were driven out of Palestine by the Egyptians, 
this was the last place which they abandoned. Since that 
time, it has never flourished as of old. It still has, how- 
ever, fifteen thousand inhabitants, is surrounded with deep 
ditches and high walls, and contains the ruins of many an- 
cient edifices. It is situated on a plain encircled with 
mountains, that on the south side being Mount Carmel, 
already described. (See p. 81.) To the plain in which it 
stands, and to the neighbouring bay, it gives its name. In 
our own times, this place has been noted for the brave and 
successful defence of it, by the Turks and English, when 
besieged by Bonaparte. 

10. Jokneam of Carmel [i. e. at the foot of Carmel,] was 
another of the thirty-one petty principalities destroyed by 
Joshua, (xii. 22.) It was within the bounds of Zebulon, 
but belonged to the Levites. (Josh. xxi. 34.) It was situ- 
ated south of Ptolemais, near the bay. 

11. Cinnereth or Cvnneroth, a town of Naphtali, (Josh. 
xix. 35,) was situated at the north-western extremity of 
the sea of Galilee, to which it sometimes lends its name. 
(Josh. xi. 2, xii. 3.) See p. 87. 



PALESTINE. 129 

12. Capernaum, which is no where mentioned in the 
Old Testament, but repeatedly in the Gospels, is said, by 
Matthew, (iv. 13,) to have been " upon the sea-coast, in 
the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim." (See p. 118.) 
Here Jesus spent, for the most part, the three years of his 
public ministry ; for which reason it is called by Matthew 
(ix. 1,) his own city. Here he performed many wonder- 
ful works, and taught often in the synagogue. (John vi. 59.) 
Here he healed Peter's wife's mother; (Matt. viii. 14;) 
the nobleman's son ; (John iv. 47 ;) the centurion's ser- 
vant, (Matt. viii. 58,) and the ruler's daughter, (ix. 23 — 
25.) In the time of Christ this city was very flourishing, 
by means of its fishery and commerce. It is now in ruins. 

13, 14. Chorazin and Bethsaida, also mentioned in Matt. 
xi. 21, 22, 24, Luke x. 13 — 15, as places where Jesus 
had wrought mighty works, were also situated on the sea 
of Galilee, though their precise location is no longer known. 
Bethsaida was the residence of Andrew, Peter, and Philip. 
(John i. 44.) In John xii. 21, it is called Bethsaida of 
Galilee, to distinguish it from another Bethsaida beyond 
Jordan. (See p. 121.) 

15. Magdala, to which Christ retired after feeding the 
four thousand upon seven loaves, (Matt. xv. 39,) was situ- 
ated on the sea of Galilee, south of Capernaum. To this 
place belonged the woman mentioned Mark xv. 40, xvi. 9, 
Luke viii. 2 ; who is, therefore, called Mary Magdalene, 
i. e. Mary of Magdala. 

16. Still further south, upon the same side of the lake, 
stands Tiberias ; so called, in honour of the emperor Tibe- 
rius, by Herod Antipas, who built the place, and made it 
the capital of Galilee. This is the Herod whom Luke 
(iii. 1,) calls Tetrarch of Galilee; who beheaded John the 
Baptist, (Matt. xiv. 3 — 11,) and who sought the life of 
Christ himself. (Luke xiii. 31.) He resided, probably, in 
Tiberias himself; which may be the reason that the Sa- 
viour never visited the place. When the Romans made 
war upon the Jews, this place surrendered without waiting 
for a siege. On account of this timely submission, the 
Jews of Tiberias remained unmolested, and that city after- 
wards became a celebrated seat of Jewish learning. 



130 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

In early times, Tiberias was a bishop's see. In the 
seventh century, it was taken by the Saracens ; and though 
it passed into the hands of Christians at the time of the 
Crusades, it returned to the possession of the Mohamme- 
dans, near the end of the thirteenth century. 

It is now called Tabaria, and is still a considerable place. 
It is chiefly inhabited by Turks, though there are some 
Christians resident there, and several hundred families of 
foreign Jews, who enjoy perfect religious liberty. The 
town is situated on a plain, surrounded by hills. It is ex- 
cessively hot, and very unhealthy. 
- 

17. Carta of Galilee, where Jesus performed his first re- 
corded miracle, (John ii. 1 — 11,) is still a neat, though poor 
village, a few miles north of Nazareth. It is under the 
government of a Turkish officer, but is chiefly inhabited by 
Christians. The inhabitants point out a house to strangers, 
as the very one in which the water was turned to wine ; 
and also the ruins of a church, built here by the empress 
Helena fifteen hundred years ago. 

18. Gath-hepher, (or Gittah-hepher,) so called, to distin- 
guish it from other places called Gath, was the birth-place 
of the prophet Jonah, (2 Kings xiv. 25,) and belonged to 
the tribe of Zebulon. (Josh. xix. 13.) It was, probably, 
situated in the land of Hepher, mentioned 1 Kings iv. 10. 

19. Nazareth, now called Naserah, where the mother of 
Jesus dwelt, and where he himself spent his early life, 
from which circumstances he derived the title of Jesus of 
Nazareth, (Mark xvi. 6, Matt. xxi. 11, Luke xxiv. 19, 
John i. 46, Acts ii. 22, &,c.,) is situated to the south of 
Cana, partly in a valley, and partly on the declivity of an 
adjacent hill. A hill is to this day pointed out on the 
south of Nazareth, as the one from which the people of 
the place attempted to precipitate the Saviour. (Luke iv. 
29.) After the expulsion of the Europeans from the Holy 
Land, about the end of the thirteenth century, this place 
gradually dwindled into insignificance, until the year 1620, 
when the Roman Catholics obtained permission from the 
emir of the Druses to rebuild the church of the Annuncia- 
tion, which had fallen to ruins. From that time the town 
increased } and is now one of the most important places in 



PALESTINE. 131 

the pacbalic of Acca. The Christian inhabitants of Naza- 
reth enjoy a degree of toleration unknown elsewhere in 
Syria or the Holy Land. 

In this place there is a Franciscan convent rebuilt in 
1730. Within its walls is the church of the Annunciation, 
erected, it is said, upon the spot where Mary received from 
the angel the annunciation of the birth of Christ. (Luke i. 
31.) This is the finest church in the country, excepting 
that of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. On the south 
side of the town there is another church, said to be built 
upon the site of the synagogue in which the Saviour taught. 
(Luke iv. 16.) Here, too, the people pretend to show the 
very house inhabited by Joseph, and the well from which 
the Virgin Mary drank. 

The inhabitants of Nazareth are said to differ from the 
other people of the country, both in personal appearance, 
and in speech. 

20. JDaberath, a city of the Levites, in the land of Is- 
sachar, (Josh. xix. 12, xxi. 28,) is probably the same with 
the modern Dabury, at the foot of Mount Tabor. 

21. A mile or two south-west of Nazareth, are shown 
the ruins of Endor, a town belonging to Manasseh, but 
within the bounds of Issachar, (Josh. xvii. 11. — Seep. 116,) 
near which Barak defeated Sisera. (Judges iv. Ps. lxxxiii. 
10, 11.) Here dwelt the woman that had a familiar spirit, 
of whom Saul went to inquire when forsaken by the Lord. 
(1 Sam. xxviii. 7 — 25.) A cave is still pointed out to tra- 
vellers as the one which she inhabited. 

22. The u city called Nain," at the gate of which Jesus 
raised the widow's son to life, (Luke vii. 11 — 15,) is now 
a small village, not far from Endor, southward from Mount 
Tabor, inhabited by Jews, Mohammedans, and Christians 

23. A 'little to the south of Nain, stood Shunem, another 
of the towns of Issachar. (Josh. xix. 18.) Here the Philis- 
tines encamped, before the battle in which Saul was slain. 
Here, in later times, dwelt the woman with whom Elisha 
lodged on his journeys from Gilgal to Mount Carmel, (2 
Kings iv. 8 — 37,) and whose son he raised from the dead. 
The account of this miracle given after Elisha' s death, by 



13*2 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

his servant Gehazi to the king, was the occasion of the res- 
toration of the widow's lands. (2 Kings viii. 1 — 16.) From 
this place, too, came Abishag (for that reason called) the 
Shunamite. (1 Kings i. 3, ii. 17, 21, 22.) 

24. Aphek, another town of Issachar, near which the 
battle was fought in which Saul and Jonathan were slain, 
(1 Sam. xxix. 1, xxviii. 4,) was situated on the plain of 
Jezreel or Esdrelon. 

There was another Aphek in the tribe of Asher, on the 
northern frontier of the land of Canaan, near Mount Leba- 
non, (Josh. xiii. 4, xix. 30, Judges i. 31,) in which quar- 
ter there is, at the present day, a village called Aphka. 
This is probably the place mentioned in 1 Kings xx. 26- — 34. 
Which of these Apheks is the one recorded in Josh. xii. 
18, cannot now be ascertained. 

25. Megiddo (Josh. xii. 21,) was also a city of Manasseh, 
within the bounds of Issachar, situated on or near the brook 
Kishon. (Josh. xii. 11. — See p. 99, 114.) Solomon fortified 
the place, (1 Kings ix. 15,) and assigned it as the residence 
of one of his purveyors ; (iv. 12.) Two kings of Judah, 
Ahaziah and Josiah, died in battle at Megiddo. (2 Kings ix. 
27, xxiii. 29.) 

26. Taanach is repeatedly mentioned in connexion with 
Megiddo, (Joshua xii. 21, xvii. 11, Judges i. 27, v. 19, 1 
Kings iv. 12, 1 Chron. vii. 29,) very near to which it no 
doubt stood. It was within the bounds of Issachar, but 
assigned to the Manassites ; who, however, were unable to 
expel the old inhabitants. (Judg. i. 27.) Afterwards it was 
given to the Levites. (Josh. xxi. 25.) 

III. SAMARIA. 

The name Samaria was originally applied to a hill, 
which Omri, king of Israel, bought of one Shemer, and 
built a city upon it, which he also called Samaria. (1 Kings 
xvi. 24.) This city became the capital of the kingdom of 
Israel. We find the name used, however, to denote a re- 
gion of country, in 1 Kings xiii. 32, and 2 Kings xvii. 24, 
26, &>c. , in which sense it is constantly employed by later 
writers. 



PALESTINE. 



133 



The region bearing this name, was bounded on the north 
by the plain of Esdrelon in Galilee, on the east by the Jor- 
dan, on the south by a district of Judea, and on the west 
by a narrow strip of land, belonging also to Judea, and di- 
viding Samaria from the sea. 

The most important places in Samaria, which are men- 
tioned by the sacred writers, are the following : — 

1. Beth-shean, a town belonging to Manasseh, within 
the bounds of Issachar, (Josh. xvii. 11. — See p. 114,) from 
which, however, the Manassites were unable to expel the 
Canaanites. (Josh. xvii. 12, Judg. i. 27.) In the time of Saul, 
this place belonged, probably, to the Philistines, as they 
there exposed his body. (1 Sam. xxxi. 10.) Afterwards, 
however, it must have become subject to the king of Judah, 
as it is included among Solomon's dominions. (1 Kings iv. 
12.) Beth-shean was situated on the borders of Galilee 
and Samaria, upon the edge of the great plain of Jordan, 
where the ground begins to rise from a level into mountain- 
ous elevations. The Greeks called it Scythopolis. (See p. 
117.) It is now in ruins. 

2. Jezreel, a town of Issachar, (Josh. xix. 18,) was situ- 
ated on the plain of the same name. (See p. 88.) It was 
one of the places over which Ishbosheth, Saul's son, reigned, 
after his father's death. (2 Sam. ii. 9.) Before the battle 
of Gilboa, in which Saul was slain, the Israelites encamped 
"by a fountain* in Jezreel." (1 Sam. xxix. 1.) The bat- 
tle took place at no great distance, so that the first news of 
the catastrophe reached Jezreel. (2 Sam. iv. 4.) 

Ahab, king of Israel, and Joram, his successor, both re- 
sided in Jezreel. (1 Kings xviii. 44- — 46, xxi. 1.) At Jez- 
reel, Jezebel the wife of Ahab, and Joram his son, were 
slain by Jehu. (2 Kings ix. 33, viii. 29, ix. 15, 24.) 

3. Dothan, the place where Joseph was sold by his bre- 
thren, (Gen. xxxvii. 17,) and where the Syrian troops at- 
tempted to seize Elisha, (2 Kings vi. 13 — 23,) was situated 
not far from Beth-shean and Jezreel, at a narrow pass 
through the mountains of Gilboa, leading into Judea. 

* On the same spot the Crusaders encamped, A. D. 1183, when about 
to engage with Saladin. 

M 



134 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

4. The city of Samaria was built by Omri, king of Is- 
rael, after the burning of the palace at Tirzah, on a hill 
which he purchased from a man named Shemer. (1 Kings 
xvi. 18, 24.) This city was the metropolis of the ten tribes, 
or the kingdom of Israel, as Jerusalem was of the kingdom 
of Judah. Thus we read in the books of Kings, that such 
and such persons " reigned over Israel, in Samaria." (1 
Kings xvi. 29, 2 Kings iii. 1, xiv. 23, xv. 23, &,c.) Here too 
they were buried. (1 Kings xvi. 28, xxii. 37, &>e.) Hence 
the language of Isaiah, (vii. 8, 9,) " The head of Syria is 
Damascus, and the head of Ephraim [i. e. Israel] is Sama- 
ria.' ' We learn from 2 Kings x. 2, that Samaria was a 
fenced or fortified city. It was twice besieged by Ben-Ha- 
dad, king of Syria, without success. (1 Kings xxi. 1 — 20, 
2 Kings vi. 24, &c. vii. 6, 7.) It was taken, however, 
by Shalmeneser, king of Assyria, after a siege of three 
years. (2 Kings xviii. 9, 10.) After this period, it ex- 
perienced many vicissitudes, passing, by turns, through 
the hands of the Syrians and the Romans ; but did not 
regain its ancient splendour till the time of Herod the 
Great, who enlarged and adorned it, and increased its 
population by introducing sixteen thousand emigrants. 
Among the public edifices which he built, was a temple to 
Augustus Csesar, from which the city obtained the Greek 
name Sebaste, corresponding to the Latin Augusta. The 
city has now almost wholly disappeared. It was situated 
in a valley surrounded by hills. The soil was very rich, 
and is, to this day, assiduously cultivated ; so that a mo- 
dern traveller observes, that Samaria is now a mere garden. 
The ruins of a church are still visible, erected by the em- 
press Helena, upon the spot where John the Baptist was 
supposed to have been beheaded ; and his grave is still 
pointed out, with those of the prophets Obadiah and Elisha, 
in a subterraneous chapel. 

5. South of Samaria, between Mount Ebal and Mount 
Gerizim, (see p. 9,) stood Shechem, or Sichem, one of the 
oldest cities of Palestine. It was a city in Jacob's time, 
(Gen. xxxiii. 18,) if not in Abraham's. (Gen. xii. 6.) 
When Jacob returned from Mesopotamia, it was in the 
possession of Hamor, a Hivite Prince. On the division of 
the land among the tribes, this city fell to Ephraim, (Josh. 
xxi. 21,) but was afterwards set apart for the Levites. 



PALESTINE. 135 

Here Joshua assembled the people before his death, and 
renewed the covenant between them and the Lord. (Josh. 
xxiv.) After the death of Gideon, Shechem became a 
seat of idolatrous worship, the people worshipping Baal- 
berith there. (Judg. viii. 33, ix. 4, 46.) The people of 
Shechem resisted the usurpation of Abimelech, who there- 
fore brought an army against it, and " took the city, and 
slew the people that 'was therein, and beat down the city, 
and sowed it with salt." (Judg. ix. 45.) It was rebuilt 
again, however ; for David mentions it, Ps. Ix. 6 ; and we 
read, in 1 Kings xii. 1, that all Israel came to Shechem, 
after the death of Solomon, to make Rehoboam king. On 
his refusing, however, to accede to their request, ten tribes 
chose Jeroboam for their sovereign, who fixed upon She- 
chem as his royal residence, and built [i. e. rebuilt] and 
adorned it ; (xii. 25.) 

On the return of the Jews from captivity, the mixed 
race who inhabited Samaria, desired to assist in the erec- 
tion, and participate in the privileges, of the temple at Je- 
rusalem, but were refused. They consequently built a tem- 
ple for themselves upon Mount Gerizim, where, under the 
direction of a Jewish priest, Manasseh, they worshipped 
in strict observance of the law of Moses. (See John iv. 20.) 
This temple stood two hundred years, and was finally des- 
troyed 129 years before the birth of Christ. In the New 
Testament, Shechem is called Sychar. (John iv. 5.) By 
the Romans it was called Flavia Neapolis, in honour of. the 
emperor Flavins Vespasian. Neapolis has been corrupted 
by the Arabs into Nablus, which is the present name. It 
is still a considerable place, and its site is remarkably plea- 
sant and productive. In the vicinity, travellers are still 
directed to the graves of Joseph, Joshua, and Eleazar. 
(Josh. xxiv. 29, 30, 32, 33.) 

Without the town is Jacob's well, (John iv. 56,) so called, 
because "near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to 
his son Joseph." (John iv. 3, Gen. xlviii. 22.) Here the 
descendants of Joseph interred his bones, according to his 
own request. (Gen. 1. 25, Josh. xxiv. 32.) 

6. Gilgal, where one of the petty Canaanitish kings 
resided, (Josh. xii. 23,) was situated on the plain of Sha- 
ron, (see p. 88,) in the neighbourhood of Shechem, and 



136 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

"beside the plains of Moreh." (Dent. xi. 30.) There was 
another Gilgal in Judea. 

7. Thebez was situated north-east of Shechem, with 
which city it took part in resisting the usurpation of Abim- 
elech, who besieged the place and took it ; but just as he 
was setting fire to a tower, in which the inhabitants had 
taken refuge, a woman threw a piece- of a mill-stone on his 
head, and his armour-bearer slew him. (Judg. ix. 50 — 54.) 

S. Respecting the situation of Luz, (Judg. i. 22 — 26 r ) 
Aruma, (Judg. ix. 41, 2 Kings xxiii. 36,) and Asher, (Josh, 
xvii. 7,) little is now known. 

9. Abel-Meholah, which was probably the birth-place of 
Elisha, (1 Kings xix. 16,) and is mentioned in the ac- 
count of Gideon's victory over the Midianites, (Judg. vii. 
22,) was situated in the plain of Jordan, between Shechem 
and Beth-shean. (See pp. 133, 134.) 

10. Zartanah, or Zereda, or Zeredathah, the native place 
of Jeroboam, the first king of Israel, (1 Kings xi. 26,) was 
situated on the west bank of the Jordan, near Beth-shean, 
(1 Kings iv. 12,) directly opposite to Succoth. Between 
these places Solomon caused brazen vessels for the tem- 
ple to be cast. (1 Kings vii. 46, 2 Chron. iv. 17.) 

11. Aenon, near to Salim, where John baptized after he 
left Bethabara, (John iii. 23 ; or Bethany, — see p. 123, note,) 
was situated south of Beth-shean, in the plain of Jordan. 
The Salim mentioned in the verse just cited, is probably 
the same with that in Gen. xiv. 18, as this situation would 
agree much better with the history, than that commonly 
adopted, viz. that the Salem there mentioned was Jerusalem. 

12. Lebonah, (Judg. xxi. 19,) south of Shechem, on the 
western side of a delightful valley. 

13. Shiloh, where Joshua set up the tabernacle, and 
whence he sent surveyors to make a partition of the land, 
(Josh, xviii. 1,) was situated between Lebonah and Bethel. 
Here all the children of Israel assembled, several times a 
year, to celebrate the festivals. On one of these occasions. 



PALESTINE. 137 

the men of Benjamin stole the daughters of the men of 
Shiloh. (Judg. xxi.) The tabernacle was afterwards re- 
moved to Gilgal. (1 Sam. x. 8, xi. 15, xv. 33, Jer. vii. 
12 — 14, Ps. lxxviii. 58, &c.) Shiloh was the residence 
of the prophet Abijah. (1 Kings xiv. 2.) There is now no 
relic of it visible. 

14. Bethel was situated between Shechem and Jerusa- 
lem. It was originally called Luz. (Gen. xxviii. 19, xxxv. 
6, Josh, xviii. 13, Judg. i. 23.) But when Jacob had seen 
two visions of the Lord upon the spot, he gave it the name 
of Bethel, or the House of God, (Gen. xxviii. 10 — 19. 
xxxv. 1 — 7, 9 — 15,) and ever afterwards regarded it as 
sacred. 

When the Hebrews invaded Canaan, Bethel was the 
residence of a petty king. (Josh. xii. 9,) It was assigned 
by Joshua to the tribe of Ephraim ; but the Canaan ites re- 
gained and kept possession of it, till at length the Ephraim- 
ites obtained it, through the treachery of one of the inhabit- 
ants. (Judg. i. 22 — 26.) The tabernacle was for a long 
time stationed at Bethel. (Judg. xx. 27, 1 Sam. x. 3, Hos. 
xii. 5.) 

After the death of Solomon, Bethel belonged to the new 
kingdom of Israel, and was selected by Jeroboam as one of 
the two places to be appointed for the worship of his 
golden calves, (1 Kings xii. 28 — 33,) probably on account of 
its ancient reputation for superior sanctity. In the reign 
of Jeroboam II. Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, accused the 
prophet Amos (who had been sent to denounce him,) of a 
conspiracy against the king ; in consequence of which he 
was expelled from Bethel. (Amos vii. 10 — 13.) We read 
in 2 Kings x. 29,) that Jehu, though he abolished the wor- 
ship of Baal in his dominions, " departed not from the sins 
of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin ; to 
wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel and that were 
in Dan." Amos uses the phrase " coming to Bethel" to 
denote idolatry ; (iv. 4 ; — see also v. 5 ;) and the prophet 
Hosea, thinking the place unworthy of its ancient name, 
(the house of God) calls it Beth-aven, or the house of ini- 
quity ; (v. 8, iv. 15, x. 5, 8.) There was another Beth- 
aven, however, which is mentioned Josh. vii. 2, (as being 
east of Bethel,) and 1 Sam. xiii. 5. Also, a ivilderness of 
Beth-aven. (Josh, xviii. 12.) The threatenings denounced 

m 2 



138 GEOGRAPHY OF THE SIBLE. 

against Bethel by Amos, (iii. 14,) were fulfilled by Josiah, 
king of Judah. (2 Kings xxiii. 15.) One of the priests 
sent back from Assyria to teach the people " the manner 
of the God of the land," took up his abode in Bethel. 

After the inhabitants of Bethel were carried into cap- 
tivity, colonists from Judah and Benjamin took possession 
of the place, (Ezra ii. 28, Neh. vii. 32, xi. 31,) who were 
themselves carried captive at a later period. The latter, 
however, or their descendants, returned, and resumed their 
former possessions. 

5. Tirzah was the residence of the kings of Israel, from 
Jeroboam (who removed thither from Shechem,) to Zimri, 
who, when besieged by Omri in his palace, to avoid cap- 
tivity, set fire to the house, and perished in the flames. 
(1 Kings xvi. 18.) Omri, his successor, built Samaria. 
(See p. 134.) The precise situation of Tirzah is unknown. 
It w T as probably within the bounds of Ephraim. 

16. " When they had made an end of dividing the land 
for inheritance by their coasts, the children of Israel gave 
an inheritance to Joshua, the son of Nun, among them. 
According to the word of the Lord, they gave him the city 
which he asked, even Timnath-serah, in Mount Ephraim ; 
and he built the city and dwelt therein." (Josh. xix. 49, 
50.) And when he died, " they buried him in the border 
of his inheritance in Timnath-serah, which is in Mount 
Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash ;" (xxiv. 30. 
— See p. 84.) The name is written Timnath-heres, in 
Judg. ii. 9. 

17. Two places of the name of Shamir are mentioned in 
Scripture ; one in Mount Ephraim, where Tola, the judge, 
resided, (Judg. x. 1,) the other in the mountains of Judah. 
(Josh. xv. 48.) 

18. The city of Ephraim, mentioned in 2 Sam. xiii. 23, 
and John xi. 54, was situated, probably, in the desert of 
Beth-aven, within the bounds of the tribe of Ephraim. It 
is uncertain whether the Ephraim which Abijah, king of 
Judah, took from Jeroboam, king of Israel, (2 Chron. xiii. 
19,) was the same with that just mentioned. 



PALESTINE. 139 

19. Seirath, on Mount Ephraim, was the place to which 
Ehud fled after he had slain Eglon, king of Moab. (Judg. 
iii. 26, 27.) 

IV. JUDEA. 

The name Judea denotes, sometimes the whole land of 
Israel west of Jordan, sometimes the southern part of it. 
In the latter sense, it was bounded, on the north by Sama- 
ria, on the east by the Dead sea, on the south by Arabia, 
and on the west by the Mediterranean. The territory of 
Judea on the sea-coast, extended as far north as Ptolemais, 
in a narrow tract of land forming the western boundary of 
Samaria, and dividing that province from the sea. 

Judea comprehended the territory of the tribes of Judah, 
Benjamin, and Simeon; (see p. 117 ;) and it appears from 
a passage in the Apocrypha, that, in later times, a part of 
Samaria and Galilee was added to Judea. (1 Mac. x. 25.) 
When Jerusalem was destroyed by the Chaldees, and the 
Jews carried captive into Babylon, the Idumeans took ad- 
vantage of their absence to seize upon the south-western 
district of Judea. Though they afterwards embraced the 
Jewish religion, and amalgamated with the Jews, the dis- 
trict which they inhabited continued to be called Idumea, 
under which name it is mentioned, Mark iii. 8. 

The following are the most important places of Judea 
mentioned in the Bible : — 

1. Jericho, the City of Palm-trees, (Deut. xxxiv. 3,) situ- 
ated six or eight leagues east of Jerusalem, in the plain of 
Jordan, was one of the oldest cities in the Holy Land. It 
stands first among the Canaanitish kingdoms, enumerated 
by Joshua, (xii. 9,) and was the first place attacked by the 
Israelites after passing the Jordan. When taken, it was 
reduced to ashes, and the inhabitants all destroyed, with 
the exception of one family. (Josh. vi. 21 — 25.) Notwith- 
standing the curse which Joshua pronounced upon the man 
who should rebuild Jericho — He shall lay the foundation 
thereof in his first-born, and in his youngest son shall he set 
up the gates of it, (vi. 26,) we soon find it again mentioned 
as a city. (Judg. iii. 13, 2 Sam. x. 4, 5.) These texts, 
however, may refer simply to the ruins of the old town ; 
for we do not find the fulfilment of the prophecy recorded 



&E0GHAPHY OF THE BIBLE* 

till the reign of Ahab, in whose days " Hiel the Bethelite, 
built Jericho : he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram, 
his first-born, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest 
son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which he 
spake by Joshua, the son of Nun." (1 Kings xvi. 34.) 
The city itself, however, appears to have flourished. In 
the days of Elijah and Elisha there was a school of the 
prophets here ; and both those men of God appear to have 
resided much at Jericho. In the neighbourhood of this 
place was the spring, the waters of which Elisha healed. 
(2 Kings ii. 19 — -22.) The spring is still pointed out to 
travellers, who describe the water as remarkably copious 
and excellent. 

We read in Ezra ii. 34, and Nehem. vii. 36, that three 
hundred and forty-five of the inhabitants of Jericho, who 
had been carried captive, returned to Judea with Zerub- 
babel, and in Neh. iii. 2, we find them at work upon the 
walls of Jerusalem. 

Jericho is several times mentioned in the Gospels. Here 
Zaccheus, the publican, resided, (Luke xix. 1 — 10,) and 
here Jesus healed two blind men. (Matt. xx. 29, Mark 
x. 46.) 

Under the Romans, Jericho was the seeond city of Pa- 
lestine. It was one of the royal residences of Herod the 
Great, who died there. It was laid waste by Vespasian,, 
but rebuilt by Adrian. In the war of the crusades it 
was again reduced to ashes, and its place is now occupied 
by a miserable hamlet called Riha* , 

2. Gilgal, the first encampment of the Hebrews, after 
the passage of the Jordan, was situated south-east of Jeru- 
salem, between that city and the river. Here the twelve 
stones w^ere set up, which had been taken from the midst 
of Jordan, as a memorial of the wonderful event there wit- 
nessed. (Josh. iv. 20.) This place continued for seven 
years to be the head quarters of the Israelites, during the 
war which Joshua carried on against the Canaanites. (Josh. 
ix. 10, x. 6, 9, 15, 43.) The tabernacle also remained here 
until it was removed to Shiloh, (Josh, xviii. 1,) from which 
place it was again brought back to Gilgal, as appears from 
1 Sam. x. 8, xi. 15, xv. 33. 

Gilgal is mentioned, 1 Sam. vii. 16, as one of the places 
to which Samuel went in circuit, yearly, to administer jus- 



PALESTINE. 141 

tice. At Gilgal, he assembled the people to u renew the 
kingdom," that is, to confirm the appointment of Saul. 
(1 Sam. xi. 14, 15.) Gilgal is also mentioned in the his- 
tory of the prophets Elijah and Elisha. (2 Kings ii. 1, iv. 
38.) In later times it became notorious for the idolatrous 
rites celebrated there. To this circumstance, Amos (iv. 4, 
5,) and Hosea (iv. 15, ix. 15^ xii. 11,) allude. The place 
has now totally disappeared. 

3. Engedi, or Hazazon-tamar, (2 Chron. xx. 2,) was 
situated near the middle of the western shore of the Dead 
sea. It was celebrated for its palm-trees. The " strong 
holds at Engedi/' where David hid himself, (1 Sam. xxiii. 
29,) were probably caves in the neighbourhood of this city. 
In Canticles (i. 14,) we read of the vineyards of Engedi ; 
and we learn from modern travellers, that this region has, 
in later times, been celebrated for its wine. 

4. Ziph was the name of two cities belonging to the 
tribe of Judah. The one was situated at the southern ex- 
tremity, on the borders of Edom ; (Josh. xv. 24 ;) the other 
much further north, on a hill of the same name, eight Ro- 
man miles east of Hebron. This Ziph was one of the cities 
which Rehoboam fortified. (2 Chron. xi. 8.) In the neigh- 
bourhood of this place, was the wilderness of Ziph, where 
David fled from Saul's persecution. (1 Sam. xxiii. 13 — 24.) 
(See p. 93.) 

5. Carmel, (Josh. xv. 55, 1 Sam. xv. 12,) a city on a 
hill of the same name, (see p. 85,) was situated a few miles 
to the east of Ziph. Here were the possessions of Nabal, 
the husband of Abigail, to whom David made application 
for provisions. (1 Sam. xxv. 2, &/C.) Abigail, whom Da- 
vid married after Nabal's death, is called (1 Sam. xxvii. 3,) 
a Carmelitess. 

6. Maon, where Nabal resided, though his possessions 
were in Carmel, (1 Sam. xxv. 2,) was situated south of the 
latter place. (Josh. xv. 55.) In the neighbourhood was 
the wilderness of Maon ; (p. 93.) 

7. Zoar, one of the five cities in the vale of Siddim, 
which was spared, at Lot's request, when the others were 



142 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

destroyed, (Gen. xix. 21,) was situated at the southern ex- 
tremity of the Dead sea. In the first century of the Chris- 
tian era, it was a bishop's see. It is now an inconsidera- 
ble village. The situation is exceedingly unhealthy, and 
the people very poor. 

8. Aioth, (Isa. x. 28,) or Aija, (Neh. xi. 31,) or Ai, was 
situated on an elevated spot east of Bethel. (Josh. viii. 11.) 
It is mentioned several times in the history of Abraham. 
(Gen. xii. 8, xiii. 3.) It was burnt by Joshua, (Josh. viii. 
24, 25,) but afterwards rebuilt. After the return of the 
Jews from captivity, the Benjamites, to whom the place 
belonged, resumed possession of it. (Neh. xi. 31.) 

9. There appears to have been two places of the name 
of Migron ; one near the northern frontier, mentioned Isa. 
x. 29 ; the other, further south, near Gibeah, mentioned 
1 Sam. xiv. 2. 

10. South of Migron, and east of Beth-aven, lay Mich- 
mash) (1 Sam. xiii. 5,) a town of Benjamin. (Ezra ii. 27, 
Neh. xi. 31.) This place is several times mentioned in the 
account of Saul's wars with the Philistines. (1 Sam. xiii. 2, 
5, 10, 16, 23, xiv. 5, 31.) In Isaiah x. 29, we read of a pas- 
sage, or narrow pass, between two rocks south of Michmas, 
which we find minutely described in 1 Sam. xiv. 45. This 
pass appears to have been highly important as a military 
post. (1 Sam. xiii. 2 — 4.) It was taken by Jonathan and 
his armour-bearer, in the face of a Philistine garrison, 
(i Sam. xiv. 13—22.) 

11. Geba, called (Judg. xx. 10, 1 Kings xv. 22,) Geba 
of Benjamin, to distinguish it from another Geba, in the 
tribe of Asher, not mentioned in the Bible, was situated 
between Shechem and Jerusalem. It was one of the most 
northerly places in Judea, as appears from 2 Kings xxiii. 8. 
and Zech. xiv. 10, where the phrases, "from Geba to 
Beersheba," "from Geba to Rimmon," are used to denote 
the whole length of Judea. It was one of the cities as- 
signed to the priests out of the tribe of Benjamin. (Josh, 
xviii. 24, xxi. 17.) In the neighbourhood of this place, 
David defeated the Philistines. (2 Sam. v. 25.) Geba is 
also mentioned by Isaiah ; (x. 29.) 



PALESTINE. 143 

12. Gibeah of Benjamin, (1 Sam. xiii. 2, 15, 2 Sam. xxiii. 
29, Judg. xix. 14, xx. 4,) so called to distinguish it from 
another Gibeah in Judah ; also Gibeah of Saul, because 
Saul resided there. (1 Sam. x. 26, xi. 4, xv. 34, Isa. x. 29.) 
The people of this place demanded seven of Saul's sons 
from David, and hung them. (2 Sam. xxi. 1 — 9.) Long 
before this, the inhabitants of Gibeah had been guilty of a 
piece of cruelty so atrocious, that, as the sacred historian 
declares, " there was no such deed done nor seen, from the 
day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of 
Egypt." (Judg. xix. 30.) The other tribes, indignant at 
the outrage, demanded the offenders to be given up ; but 
the Benjamites refusing to deliver them, the whole nation 
rose in arms against this single tribe, and though at first 
repulsed, at last succeeded in destroying Gibeah, and twen- 
ty-five thousand men of the tribe of Benjamin. (Judg. xx. 
46.) By this deed, the people of Gibeah became infamous 
in Israel, so that the prophet Hosea alludes to their wick- 
edness as if proverbial ; (ix. 9, x. 9.) 

13. Gibeon was situated five Roman miles north-west of 
Jerusalem. It is not mentioned among the royal cities 
enumerated in Josh. xii. 9 — 24, nor is there any mention 
of a king of Gibeon in Scripture ; though Joshua describes 
it as a " great city, like one of the royal cities;" (x. 2.) 
The ambassadors who came to Joshua from Gibeon, say, 
"our elders and all the inhabitants of our country," not 
" our king." (Josh. ix. 11.) It is probable, therefore, that 
in it, and the three cities connected with it, Chephirah, 
Beeroth, and Kirjath-jearim, (Josh. ix. 17,) there prevailed 
a sort of democratic government. 

In the ninth chapter of Joshua, we have an account of a 
stratagem practised by the Gibeonites, in order to escape 
destruction, in consequence of which a league was made 
with them by Joshua. When the deception was discovered, 
the children of Israel, though they spared their lives, de- 
graded them. to the meanest offices in the service of the 
sanctuary. Soon after, Joshua was called upon to act as 
protector of his new allies. Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusa- 
lem, when he Ijeard that the Gibeonites had made a sepa- 
rate peace with the invaders, combined with four other 
Canaanitish kings to destroy the city, but was himself de- 
feated and destroyed by Joshua. (Josh, x.) 



GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

On the division of the land among the tribes, Gibeon, 
Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjath-jearim, fell to the lot of 
Benjamin. (Josh, xviii. 15.) Afterwards, however, Gibeon 
was given to the priests and Levites. (Josh. xxi. 17.) In 
the latter part of David's reign, the sanctuary was at Gibeon, 
and the high priest Zadok, dwelt there ; (1 Chron. xvi. 
39, 40, xxi. 29 ;) and there Solomon went to offer sacrifices 
on his accession to the throne. 

At the pool of Gibeon a battle took place between twelve 
of David's men, and twelve of Ishbosheth's, in which every 
man was killed. (2 Sam. ii. 13.) This pool is no doubt the 
" great waters in Gibeon," mentioned by Jeremiah ; (xli. 
12.) We read in 2 Sam. xx. 8, that Joab assassinated 
Amasa, " at the great stone, which is in Gibeon," probably a 
memorial of the battle above mentioned. 

14. Chephirah (Josh. ix. 17,) belonged to the tribe of 
Benjamin before the captivity, and was re-occupied by the 
Benjamites who returned. (Josh, xviii. 26, Ezra ii. 25, 
Neh. vii. 29.) 

15. Beeroth, another of the cities of the Gibeonites, (Josh. 
ix. 17,) also belonged to the tribe of Benjamin, and was also 
re-possessed by them on their return. It lay at the foot of 
the hill on which Gibeon was built. To this place belonged 
the two men who murdered Ishbosheth. (2 Sam. iv. 2, 3.) 

16. Baalah, which is Kirjath-jearim, (Josh. xv. 9,) also 
called Kirjath-baal, (Josh. xv. 60 3 ) and simply Kirjath, 
(Josh, xviii. 28,) was situated on the borders of Benjamin 
and Judah, for which reason it is reckoned among the 
cities of both tribes. (Josh. xv. 60, xviii. 28.) But in Judg. 
xviii. 12, it is called Kirjath-jearim in Judah. In this 
place the ark of the covenant remained twenty years, after 
it w T as removed from Beth-sbemesh, (1 Sam. i. 2,) until 
David having obtained possession of Jerusalem, fixed the 
sanctuary there. (2 Sam. vi.) 

17. Ramah, called also Ramatkaim-zophim, was situated 
on a hill north of Jerusalem, between that city and Bethel. 
It seems probable, from. Judges xix. 13, and Hosea v. 8, 
that it was not far from Gibeah. Here the prophet Samuel 
was born. (1 Sam. i. 1.) Here he dwelt ; (ix. IS.) Here 



PALESTINE. 145 

he anointed Saul to be king over Israel; (ix. 27, x. I.) 
Here, in all probability, he died ; and here he certainly 
was buried ; (xxv. 1.) 

Ramah, though it belonged to the tribe of Benjamin, 
(Josh, xviii. 25,) was included in the kingdom of Israel. 
Baasha, the second king after Jeroboam, fortified and gar- 
risoned it ; (1 Kings xv. 7, 2 Chron. xvi. 1 ;) but Asa, the 
contemporary king of Judah, having bribed the king of Sy- 
ria to invade Baasha' s northern provinces, and thereby 
compelled him to withdraw his garrison from Ramah, re- 
gained possession of the place, (1 Kings xv. 18, 2 Chron. 
xvi. 2—6,) which afterwards continued subject to the 
kings of Judah. 

When Jerusalem was taken by the Chaldeans, Ramah 
was the head quarters of Nabuzar-adan, the captain of the 
guard. There he brought his captives, and among the rest 
the prophet Jeremiah, who, however, was there set at 
liberty. (Jer. xl. 1.) The same prophet represents Rachel, 
who was buried in the neighbourhood of Ramah, (1 Sam. 
x. 2,) as mourning there over the captivity of Israel. (Jer. 
xxxi. 15.) 

In the New Testament, Ramah is called Arimathea, (a 
corruption of Ramathaim.) To this place belonged Joseph, 
in whose tomb Christ was buried. (Matt, xxvii. 57, Luke 
xxiii. 50, 51, John xix. 38.) 

On the hill where Ramah once stood, there is now a vil- 
lage, situated in the midst of ruins, and called Samuel by 
the Arabs who inhabit it. Ramah is not to be confounded 
with Ramlah, a town further west, upon the sea-coast, 
built in the eighth century. 

18. Gallim* (1 Sam. xxv. 44, Isa. x. 30.) 

19. Laish. (Isa. x. 30.) 

20. Anathoth, one of the towns of Benjamin allotted to 
the priests, (Josh. xxi. 18,) was situated three Roman 
miles to the north of Jerusalem. — It was the birth-place of 
Jeremiah, (Jer. i. 1,) who denounces threats against the 
inhabitants, because they attempted to forbid his prophesy- 
ing in the name of the Lord. (Jer. xi. 19 — 22, 25.) It was 
also the native place of Abiezer, one of David's mighty 
men, (2 Sam. xxiii. 27,) and the place to which Abiathar 

N 



146 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

was confined by Solomon, because be bad taken part witb 
Adonijah. (1 Kings ii. 26.) Among the Jews wbo returned 
from captivity with Zerubbabel, there were 128 men of 
Anathoth. (Ezra ii. 23, Neh. vii. 27.) 

21, 22. Madmenah and Gebim. (Isa. x. 31.) 

23. Nob, a "city of the priests," (1 Sam. xxii. 19,) in 
the land of Benjamin, (Neh. xi. 32,) was within sight of 
Jerusalem, towards the north. Here David obtained from 
Abimelech the priest, shew-bread, # to appease bis hunger, 
and the sword of Goliath to defend himself, when he fled 
from Saul. (1 Sam. xxi. 1 — 9.) For this connivance, Saul 
put to death not only Abimelech himself, but all the "men 
and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, 
and sheep," in Nob, the city of the priests; (xxii. 19.) 

24. Gezer, on the borders of Ephraim and Benjamin, 
(Josh. xvi. 3,) was the residence of a Canaanitish king, 
(Josh. xii. 12,) who came to the aid of Lachish, when be- 
sieged by Joshua, but was totally defeated. (Josh. x. 33.) 
The city seems, however, to have continued in the pos- 
session of the Canaanites ; for the Ephraimites, though they 
made them tributary, could not drive them out. (Josh. xvi. 
10, Judg. i. 29.) In the reign of Solomon, the place was 
conquered ; not by Solomon himself, but by his father-in- 
law, Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who "had gone up and 
taken Gezer, and burnt it with fire, and slain the Canaan- 
ites that dwelt in the city, and given it for a present unto 
his daughter, Solomon's wife." (1 Kings ix. 16.) Solo- 
mon rebuilt it; (17.) 

25. Upper and Nether Beth-horon (Josh. xvi. 3, 5,) were 
situated about 12 Roman miles north-west of Jerusalem, the 
former on the brow of a hill, the latter in a valley below, 
the descent to which is called (Josh. x. 11,) the going down 
to Beth-horon. These towns were built by Sherah, a grand- 
daughter of Ephraim. (1 Chron. vii. 24.) Though suf- 
ficiently strong by nature, they were fortified by Solomon. 
(1 Kings ix. 17, 2 Chron. viii. 5.) Here a bloody battle 

* The shew-bread had, no doubt, been removed to the priest's house, be- 
cause fresh was to be furnished on the morrow. 



PALESTINE. 147 

was fought between Judas Maccabaeus and the Syrian gen- 
eral Nicanor, in which the army of the latter was cut to 
pieces. (2 Maccab. xv. 25 — 27.) 

26. Emmaus, which is mentioned only once in the New 
Testament, (Luke xxiv. 13,) as the place to which the two 
disciples were journeying on the day of Christ's resurrec- 
tion, is there stated to have been distant sixty furlongs from 
Jerusalem, probably towards the north. 

There was another Emmaus in the western part of Ju- 
dea, which will be described hereafter. 

27. Mizpah, in Benjamin, (Josh, xviii. 26,) appears to 
have been situated north of Jerusalem, and at no great 
distance. 

Before there were kings in Israel, the assemblies of the 
people or their representatives were held at Mizpah, (Judg. 
xx. 1, xxi. 15, 1 Sam. vii. 5 — 7, x. 17,) probably on ac- 
count of its central situation. In later times, Asa, king of 
Judah, fortified Mizpah as a defence against the invasions 
of the kings of Israel ; using, for this purpose, the mate- 
rials which Baasha, king of Israel, had brought to Ramah, 
with a similar design. (2 Chron. xvi. 6.) Here Gedaliah 
resided, Nebuchadnezzar's governor of Judea, (Jer. xl. 6,) 
who was afterwards murdered by Ishmael. (Jer. xli. 1 — 6, 
2 Kings xxv. 25.) 

After the return of the Jews from captivity, Mizpah was 
rebuilt and occupied ; and in Neh. iii. 17, 19, we find the 
men of Mizpah working upon the walls of Jerusalem. No 
vestige of this city now remains. 

There was another Mizpah in the western part of Judea. 

28. Jerusalem. Ancient Jerusalem was situated upon 
several hills, originally separated by deep valleys, which, 
however, in process of time, were in a great measure filled 
up. The highest of these hills, upon which stood what 
was called the upper town, or south-western portion of the 
city, still retains its ancient name of Zion, which is often 
used in Scripture to denote the whole city. (Ps. Ixxviii. 2, 
5, 22, cii. 13, 16, ex. 2, Isa. iv. 3, x. 24.) Opposite this 
upper town, upon Mount Zion, towards the north-east, 
stood the tower-town, built upon another hill, called by the 
Greeks Acta, or the citadel, from a castle built there by 



f 



148 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

Antiochus Epiphanes. South of Acra was a third hill, 
Mount Moriah, originally separated from it by a valley, but 
united to it by Simon Maccabseus, who filled up the valley, 
destroyed the castle of Antiochus, and levelled the peak of 
Acra, in order that the temple, which stood upon Moriah, 
might not be overtopped by any profane edifice. Mount 
Moriah was connected with Mount Zion by a bridge, 
thrown across the valley that divided them. Josephus 
mentions yet a fourth hill, called Bezetha, (or the new town,) 
because first added to the city by Agrippa, grandson of 
Herod the Great. 

At the time of Josephus, who lived soon after Christ, the 
whole city, except where it was inaccessible, was surround- 
ed with a triple wall, furnished with breast-works, (called 
in Scripture bulwarks and ramparts, (Psa. xlviii. 13, Lam. 
ii. 8,) and with towers. (2 Chron. xxvi. 9, 15.) Two of 
these are mentioned particularly in the Bible — the tower 
of Hananeel, (Jer. xxxi. 38, Zech. xiv. 10,) and the tower 
of Meah. (Neh. iii. 1, xii. 39.) These towers were square, 
20 ells high above the wall, and 200 ells apart. 

Jerusalem was furnished with gates on three of its sides 
only, the south side of Mount Zion being inaccessible. After 
the return of the Jews from captivity, we read in Scrip- 
ture of ten gates. Five of these were on the eastern side. 

1. The Water-gate, so called from the brook Kedron, 
which flowed before it. (Neh. iii. 26, xii. 37.) 

2. The Horse-gate " by the king's house," (2 Chron. 
xxiii. 15, Neh. iii. 23,) probably so called from the vicinity 
of the royal stables. 

3. The Sheep-gate, through which the animals were 
probably brought in for sacrifice. It stood close to the tem- 
ple, and was the first gate rebuilt by Zerubbabel. (Neh. iii. 
I.) Between this and the horse-gate, dwelt the priests. 
(Neh. iii. 28.) Near this gate was the pool of Bethesda, 
mentioned John v. 2. 

4. The Fish- gate, between the Sheep- gate and the Old- 
gate. (Neh. iii. 3, Zeph. i. 10.) 

5. The Old-gate, or First-gale. (Neh. iii. 6, xii. 39, 
Zech. xiv. 10.) 

Two were on the north side : — 

6. The gate of Ephraim, (Neh. viii. 16,) called also the 
gate of Benjamin, (Jer. xxxvii. 13, xxxviii. 7, Zech. 
xiv. (10 



\ 



PALESTINE. 



149 



7. The Comer-gate, four hundred cubits west of the 
gate of Ephraim. (2 Chron. xxv. 23, xxvi. 9, Jer. xxxi. 
38, Zech. xiv. 10, Neh. xii. 39.) 

Three were on the western side : — 

8. The Valley-gate, (Neh. iii. 13,) before which was 
the dragon- well ; (ii. 13.) 

9. The Dung-gate, a thousand cubits south of the valley- 
gate. (Neh. iii. 13, 14.) 

10. The Fountain- gate, (Neh. ii. 14, xii. 37,) so called 
from the fountain of Siloah, which formed a pool near this 
gate, and watered the king's garden. (Neh. iii. 15.) 

The Middle-gate, mentioned Jer. xxxix. 3, was an en- 
trance from the lower to the upper town. 

The Prison- gate, (Neh. xii. 39, 40,) and the gate of 
Miphkad, (iii. 31,) were gates of the temple, not the city. 
The gate mentioned 2 Kings xxv. 4, Jer. xxxix. 4, was 
probably a private gate. 

The whole compass of the city, according to Josephus, 
was 33 stadia, or about 4 miles, 100 yards. Respecting the 
number of inhabitants, we have no certain information. 

No particular street in Jerusalem is mentioned in Scrip- 
ture, excepting the Baker 1 s-street. (Jer. xxxvii. 21.) From 
this expression, and from Neh. iii. 32, it would seem, that 
in ancient Jerusalem, as in most oriental cities at the pre- 
sent day, men of the same occupation inhabited the same 
quarter. The words translated street, in Neh. iii. 16, 2 
Chron. xxxii. 6. Neh. viii. 1, 3, properly signify squares, 
or open places around the gates. 

The most important public edifices of Jerusalem, besides 
the temple, were : — 

1. The fort, castle, or strong-hold of Zion. When the 
Hebrews invaded Palestine, this citadel was in the hands 
of the Jebusites ; and in their hands it continued, even af- 
ter David had subdued the whole circumjacent region. So 
strong was it by nature, and so well fortified by art, tliat 
when David came against it, the inhabitants replied tc his 
summons, " Except thou take away the blind and the*'ame, 
thou shalt not come in hither ;" (2 Sam. v. 6 ;) i.e. ~ven if 
our army were destroyed, the blind and lame could *efend so 
strong a post. At length, David promised the command of his 
army to the man who should take the place ; -ipon which 
Joab went up and took it. (1 Chron. xi. 6.) A^ er this, it was 
called the city of David. (2 Sam. v. 9, yi. A 12, 1 Kings 
n2 



150 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

viii. 1.) It was surrounded by a wall called Millo, which 
was repaired and strengthened by David, (2 Sam. v. 9,) 
and afterwards by Hezekiah. (2 Chron. xxxii. 5.) 

2. On the same hill (Mount Zion,) was the palace of 
king Solomon, called the House of the Forest of Lebanon, 
on account of the multitude of cedars from that mountain, 
employed in the construction of it. (See a description of it 
in 1 Kings vii. 2, x. 17.) 

3. On the same hill, in later times, stood the palace of 
king Herod, a magnificent edifice, near the northern wall 
of the upper town. It was destroyed, with the other pub- 
lic buildings, by the Romans. 

4. The castle of Antonia, built by John Hyrcanus, and 
repaired by Herod, was situated at the north-west corner 
of the temple, the vestibule of which was commanded by 
the highest tower of the castle. Here a Roman garrison 
was stationed, after Palestine became a Roman province, 
to watch the proceedings of the people in the temple. Into 
this castle the apostle Paul was carried to save him from 
the fury of the Jews. (Acts xxi. 34, 37, xxii. 24, xxiii. 10.) 
This was probably the Prcetorium, translated Judgment-hall ; 
(John xviii. 28, xix. 9 ;) and in front of it was the pave- 
ment, where Pilate pronounced sentence on our Saviour. 

The origin of Jerusalem is lost in remote antiquity. 
When the Hebrews invaded Palestine, it was the seat of 
Adoni-bezek, a Canaanitish king, and was then called Je- 
hus or Jebusi, (Judg. xix. 10, 11.) This king was con- 
quered and slain by Joshua, (Josh. x. 23, 26,) and the city 
given to the tribe of Benjamin. (Josh, xviii. 28.) As the 
Benjamites, however, delayed long to gain possession of it, 
the neighbouring tribe of Judah went up and took it. 
(Judg. i. 8.) The strong-hold, however, or the upper town, 
still continued in the possession of the Canaanites for seve- 
ral hundred years, the Israelites dwelling in the lower 
town, without molestation, (Josh. xv. 63, Judg. i. 21,) till 
at length Joab took the castle in the reign of David, (2 Sam. 
v. 2 — 8, 1 Chron. xi. 4 — 6. — See p. 149,) who transferred 
his residence from Hebron to this city, which thencefor- 
ward bor\ the name of Jerusalem, or by abbreviation Salem, 
(Ps. lxxvi. 2,) i. e . the City of Peace. Here the temple 
was built b^ Solomon ; after whose death, when teij of the 
tribes revolte(^ erusa ] em continued to be the capital of the 
kingdom of Jut^. j n tne re i gn f Amaziah, Joash king 



PALESTINE. 151 

of Israel, took the city, plundered the temple and the pa- 
lace, and carried captive a part of the inhabitants. (2 Kings 
xiv. 12 — 14.) By the succeeding kings of Judah, Uzziah, 
Jotham, and Hezekiah, Jerusalem was fortified. (2 Chron. 
xxvi. 9, xxvii. 3, xxxii. 5.) In the reign of Jehoiakim, 
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, took the city, and car- 
ried into his own dominions, not only the king, but the 
greater part of the inhabitants ; leaving Jehoiakim' s brother 
Zedekiah, to be king in his place, as a tributary to the 
crown of Babylon. (2 Kings xxiv. 17, 18.) Zedekiah, 
however, having become a vassal to the king of Egypt, 
Nebuchadnezzar, in a second expedition, conquered, sacked, 
and burnt the city. (2 Kings xxv., 2 Chron. xxxvi.) 
About seventy years after, when Babylon became a part 
of the Persian empire, Cyrus gave permission to the cap- 
tive Jews to return to their own country, and rebuild their 
city and temple. The manner in which this was accom- 
plished, forms the subject of the books of Ezra and Ne- 
hemiah. But Jerusalem seems to have arisen from her 
ashes only to suffer new calamities. In the space of 350 
years, it was successively besieged and taken, by Ptolemy 
Lagi, king of Egypt, by Antiochus Epiphanes, king of 
Syria, by Pompey the Great, by Pacorus the Parthian, and 
by Herod the Great. The Romans, who obtained pos- 
session of the Holy Land about 60 years before the birth 
of Christ, oppressed the inhabitants so cruelly, that at length 
they rose in open rebellion, and with such violence, that 
Titus Vespasian was despatched with an army to repress 
them. By him Jerusalem was stormed and burnt about 70 
years after the birth of Christ. In A. D. 136, the Roman 
emperor, Aelius Adrianus, built a new city on the ruins of 
Jerusalem, which he called Aelia Colonia Antonina. This 
name it bore, till after the conversion of Constantine the 
Great to Christianity, in the fourth century, when the an- 
cient name was revived. In the year 615, Jerusalem was 
taken by the king of Persia, and, about 20 years after, by 
the Arabs under the Caliph Omar. From these again it 
was taken by the Seljooks, and from these by the Egyp- 
tians. At the end of the eleventh century, it was con- 
quered by the Crusaders, and became the seat of a Chris- 
tian king ; but in less than a hundred years was overthrown 
by Saladin. From this period it passed, by turns, into the 
hands of different Mohammedan and Christian nations, till 



152 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

about 300 years ago, when it was taken by the Turks, to 
whom it has ever since belonged. 

Jerusalem, at the present day, occupies only a part of the 
ancient site, the emperor Adrian having, when he rebuilt 
it, left the greater part of Mount Zion without the walls. 
It has seven gates, only Rve of which are used : — 

1. The gate of Damascus, on the north. 

% The gate of Herod, (shut up.) 

3. Stephen'' s gate, on the east, leading to the Mount of 
Olives. Just without this gate, the martyr Stephen is sup- 
posed to have been stoned. 

4. The golden gate. This is now entirely closed up, to 
prevent Jews and Christians from approaching the great 
mosque of Omar, which stands upon the site of the old tem- 
ple, near this place. 

5. The western gate or dung gate. (See p. 148.) 

6. Zion gate, or David's gate, leading to Mount Zion. 

7. The Jaffa or Bethlehem gate. 

The present walls were built by the Sultan Soliman, in 
1534. They are above thirty feet high, and studded with 
towers. On Mount Zion there is a fort called David's cas- 
tle, built by the crusaders. The streets of Jerusalem are 
cleaner than those of other eastern cities, but extremely 
narrow. The houses are very high, and have no windows 
in the lower stories. 

The most important public edifices in Jerusalem at pre- 
sent, are as follows : — 

1. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built in the form 
of a cross, over the spot where, it is pretended. Christ was 
crucified and buried. It belongs to the Roman Catholics- 
Greeks, Armenians, and Copts, in common. It is only 
opened on festivals. A certain number of priests, from 
each of the churches just enumerated, reside in it constantly , 
receiving food through a hole in the door. 

2. The convent of San Salvador, (or the holy Saviour,) 
occupied by Franciscan monks from the different countries 
of Europe, who live upon alms collected throughout Chris- 
tendom. In this convent all European travellers, of what- 
ever church or nation, are hospitably entertained. 

3. The Armenian convent, built upon the spot where 
the apostle James is said to have suffered martyrdom, is the 
richest religious house in the Levant. The superior, who 
is a patriarch or archbishop, lives in splendid style. 



PALESTINE. 158 

4. The Greeks have about twenty convents here, the 
finest of which is one near the church of the Holy Sepul- 
chre, where their patriarch resides. 

5* The great Mosque, built upon the site of Solomon's 
temple, about 1200 years ago, by the caliph Omar, and 
called by the Mohammedans El-sakhrah, or the stone, from 
a tradition that upon this same spot Jacob saw the ladder, 
and set up the stone, which had been his pillow, as a me- 
morial. (Gen. xxviii. 11, 18.) No Christian is allowed 
even to approach this mosque. It is of an octagonal form, 
and is said to be a splendid specimen of oriental architecture. 

The population of Jerusalem, at present, consists of about 
sixteen thousand Turks, Arabs, Jews, Greeks, Armenians, 
Georgians, Syrians, Abyssinians, Copts, and Franks. They 
are generally very poor. The only profitable trade here is 
in crucifixes, rosaries, and relics. The sale of these super- 
stitious toys brings into the convent of San Salvador a 
yearly income of 5,000 piastres. Another source of revenue 
to the inhabitants, is the resort of pilgrims, both Christian 
and Mohammedan. The former visit the Holy Sepulchre, 
at Easter, to the number of 4000 — the latter worship in the 
Mosque on their return from Mecca. The Jews here are 
very poor. Most of them come from foreign parts, in their 
old age, to die and be buried in the valley of Jehoshaphat. 

The governor of Jerusalem is subject to the pacha of 
Damascus, to whom he pays a certain proportion of the 
sums which he extorts from the inhabitants and pilgrims. 

East of Jerusalem, beyond the brook Kedron, (see p. 100,) 
is the garden of Gethsemane, the scene of our Saviour's 
agony, and the place where he was seized. (Matt. xxvi. 
36.) It is now a grain-field of about half an acre, sur- 
rounded by a low wall. In it there are eight olive-trees, 
several hundred years old. The Franciscans of San Sal- 
vador, to whom the ground belongs, preserve the kernels 
of the olives that grow here, to serve as beads for rosaries. 

The Mount of Olives, (see p. 84,) the valley of Jehosha- 
phat, (see p. 89,) and the valley of Hinnom, (see p. 90,) 
have already been described. _ 

In the valley of Hinnom, at the foot of Mount Moriah, 

south- east of Mount Zion, rises the fountain of Siloah or 

Gihon. The water from this spring forms two pools, on 

opposite sides, called, in Scripture, the upper pool, (Isa. vii, 

3,) or king's pool, (Neh. ii. 14,) and the lower pool, (Isa, 



154 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

xxii. 9.) In one of these pools Jesus sent a blind man to 
wash, for the recovery of his sight. (John ix. 7.) 

Another spring near Jerusalem is called Mary's Fountain, 
not far from Siloam, with which it is connected by an arti- 
ficial passage. It is probably the En-rogel, mentioned 
Josh. xv. 7, xviii. 16. 

Within the wall of Jerusalem there is a hollow, 120 feet 
long and 8 feet deep, which, though now quite dry, is pro- 
bably the bed of the pool of Bethesda, mentioned John v. 2. 
On the west side of the pool there are three decayed arches, 
supposed to be relics of the "five porches/' 

On Mount Zion there is a mosque, said to be built over 
David's sepulchre, and an Armenian church, said to stand 
upon the site of the high priest Caiaphas's house. On the 
same hill, there is a house, once a convent, now inhabited 
by Turks, which is shown as the very one where the 
Lord's supper was instituted, and where the Holy Ghost 
descended on the day of Pentecost. On Mount Zion, also, 
is the Christian's burial place. 

Many other burial places filled with ancient sepulchres 
are to be found about Jerusalem, one of which is indicated 
by tradition as the Potter's field, or Field of Blood. (Matt, 
xxvii. 7, 8, Acts i. 19.) 

In the valley of Jehoshaphat, there are several curious 
specimens of ancient architecture. One of these is called 
the sepulchre of Jehoshaphat. Another, the sepulchre of 
Zechariah. A third is supposed by the inhabitants to be 
the monument which Absalom erected for himself, (2 Sam. 
xviii. 18,) in consequence of which belief, every Jew, 
Christian, and Mohammedan, who passes by, throws a 
stone to express his abhorrence for the character of Absa- 
lom. On the north side of the city are the sepulchres of 
the kings, and further to the north-west the graves of the 
judges of Israel. All these, however, are of comparatively 
recent origin. North of the garden of Oethsemane, be- 
tween the brook Kedron and the Mount of Olives, are the 
ruins of a church built by the empress Helena over the 
grave of the Virgin Mary. In a chapel at this spot, 
eighteen lamps are constantly kept burning, the expense 
of which is defrayed partly by Mohammedans, who unite 
with the oriental Christians in paying peculiar honours to 
this spot* 



PALESTINE. 155 

29. Bethphage and Bethany are mentioned together, in 
the account of Christ's last entrance into Jerusalem. (Mark 
xi. 1, Luke xix. 29.) They were situated near the foot of 
the Mount of Olives, towards the south-east. From Beth- 
phage Jesus sent his disciples to procure the ass's colt. 
This village has entirely disappeared. 

Bethany was the residence of Lazarus, whom Christ 
raised from the dead, (John xi.,) and of his sisters, Mary 
and Martha. Here, in the house of Simon the leper, Jesus 
was anointed with precious ointment; (Matt. xxvi. 6, 
Mark xiv. 3, John xii. 1 — 3 ;) and here, during the last 
days of his life, he was accustomed to retire in the evening 
from Jerusalem, and spend the night. (Matt. xxi. 17, Mark 
xi. 11, 12.) The grave of Lazarus is still visited by 
pilgrims. 

30. Bethlehem, anciently called Ephrath, (Gen. xxxv. 
16, 19, xlviii. 7,) though such an inconsiderable place as 
to be omitted in every list of the cities of Judah, (Josh, xv., 
]N T eh. xi. 25. — See also Micah v. 1,) was well known, in 
early times, as the native town of David ; (on which ac- 
count it is called the city of David ; Luke ii. 4, 11 ;) and 
long after, became still more sacred and celebrated as the 
birth-place of the Saviour. (Matt. ii. 1, Luke ii. 4, 6.) It 
still retains its ancient name, and is situated on a hill over- 
looking a deep valley, about two leagues south of Jerusa- 
lem. The aspect of the country, which, for some distance 
south of Jerusalem, is very uninviting, becomes more attrac- 
tive in the neighbourhood of Bethlehem ; the soil being 
such as would richly repay the toil of cultivation. The 
town contains about 200 houses, inhabited by Christians 
and Mohammedans, who live together in peace. About 
two hundred paces east of Bethlehem, stands the celebrated 
church of the Nativity, and adjoining it a Franciscan con- 
vent. A subterraneous chapel in this church is said to have 
been the stable in which Christ was born. It is lighted by 
thirty-two lamps, which are constantly kept burning, 
adorned with paintings, and furnished with an organ. An- 
other subterraneous chapel in this church, is called the ora- 
tory of St. Jerome, who is said to have made his translation 
of the Bible in this place, and to have been buried here. 
Within the same convent, there is another ancient church 



156 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE* 

called the church of St. Catherine. Besides this Francis- 
can convent, there is an Armenian and a Greek one. 

North-west of Bethlehem, at no great distance, is the 
grave of Rachel, Jacob's wife, (Gen. xxxv. 19,) over 
which there is a monument of modern date. About as far 
eastward is a small but beautiful and fruitful plain, where 
(tradition says,) the shepherds were feeding their flocks by 
night, when they received from the angel the intelligence 
of the Redeemer's birth. (Luke ii. 9, 10.) Here are the 
ruins of a church built by the empress Helena. 

South of Bethlehem there are three pools or reservoirs, 
supposed to be the same mentioned Eccl. ii. 6. These re- 
servoirs are thirty ells deep, above two hundred long, and 
above one hundred wide, and are to this day called Solo- 
mon' s pools* 

31. Tekoah was situated not far to the south-east of 
Bethlehem, on the borders of the great wilderness frequent- 
ed by herdsmen. Amos tells us, that he was " among the 
herdsmen of Tekoah;" (i. 1.) It was one of the posts 
fortified by Rehoboam, (2 Chron. xi. 6,) but has now 
wholly disappeared. 

3*2. Hebron, originally called Kirjath-arba, (i. e. the city 
of Arba,) " which Arba was a great man among the Ana- 
kirns," (Josh. xiv. 15,) was one of the oldest cities in Pales- 
tine. In the neighbourhood of this place Abraham abode 
after he parted with Lot, (Gen. xiii. 18,) and bought a field 
with a cave, in which to bury his dead. (Gen. xxiii.) In 
this cave were buried, besides Abraham himself, his son Isaac, 
his grandson Jacob, with their wives Rebecca and Leah, and 
his great grandson Joseph. (Gen. xxiii. 19, xxv. 10, xlix. 
29 — 33, 1. 12, 13.) When the Hebrews invaded Palestine, 
Hebron was the residence of a king, (Josh. xii. 10,) named 
Hoham, w r ho combined with four other Canaanitish kings 
against Israel, but was defeated and destroyed by Joshua. 
(Josh. x. 3, 4, 22 — 27.) After which, the city being taken, 
was assigned to Caleb, (Josh. xiv. 6 — 14,) agreeably to a 
promise given him by Moses. (Num. xiii. 30 — 33, xiv. 5, 
24.) Afterwards it was made a city of refuge, and given 
to the priests. (Josh. xxi. 11, xx. 7.) 

When David succeeded Saul upon the throne of Israel, 
he made choice of Hebron as his royal residence, and con- 



PALESTINE. 157 

tinued there till Jerusalem was taken. (2 Sam. ii. 1, v. 
4 — 9.) On the division of the nation under Rehoboam, 
Hebron belonged to the kingdom of Judah. (2 Chron. xi. 
10.) At the present day, Hebron is a flourishing town 
called El-khalil, well known for its glass manufactory. The 
inhabitants are engaged in perpetual hostilities with those 
of Bethlehem, which prevent its being visited by pilgrims. 
The empress Helena built a splendid church over the 
graves of the patriarchs, which is now a mosque. 

33. Debir, formerly called Kirjath-sepher, (or the city of 
the book,) and also Kirjath-sannah, (Josh. xv. 49,) was 
taken by Joshua from its king, (Josh. x. 38, 39,) and given 
to the tribe of Judah. The precise situation of this place 
is now unknown, but it was no doubt near to Hebron. It 
was retaken by the Canaanites after its first conquest, and 
again conquered by Othniel, Caleb's nephew. (Josh. xv. 
15 — 17.) There was another Debir, beyond Jordan, in the 
tribe of Gad. (Josh. xiii. 26.) 

34. Beersheba was situated twenty miles south of He- 
bron, at the southern extremity of Canaan ; for which rea- 
son the phrase " from Dan to Beersheba," is used to denote 
the whole length of the country, and " from Beersheba to 
Mount Ephraim," the whole length of the kingdom of Ju- 
dah. (2 Chron. xix. 4.) Beersheba was at first merely the 
name of a well dug by Abraham, (Gen. xxi. 25, 30, xxvi. 
15, 18,) near which he long resided, (Gen. xxi. 32, xxii. 
19,) and his son Isaac after him. (Gen. xxvi. 26 — 33.) In 
Josh. xv. 28, it is assigned to the tribe of Judah, but in 
xix. 2, to Simeon. (See p. 113.) Beersheba was the resi- 
dence of Samuel's sons, Joel and Abiah, when they became 
colleagues of their father. (1 Sam. viii. 2.) In later times, 
it was a seat of idolatrous worship. (Amos v. 5, viii. 13, 
14.) On the return of the Jews from captivity, Beersheba 
was again re-peopled. (Neh. xi. 27, 30.) 

35. Goshen was one of the cities of the tribe of Judah. 
(Josh. xv. 51.) The surrounding region was called the 
land of Goshen, and is not to be confounded with the dis- 
trict of the same name, where the Israelites dwelt in Egypt. 
(See p. 64.) 





15S GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 



I. Hormah. (Josh. xii. 14, Judg. i. 17, Num. xiv, 45, 
xxi. 2, 3, Josh. xv. 30, xix. 4, 5, 1 Chron. iv. 30, 1 Sam. 

xxx. 30.) 

37. Rimmon, like Beersheba, is sometimes used to de- 
note the southern extremity of Judah. (Zech. xiv. 10.) 
This place also belonged first, to the tribe of Judah, (Josh. 
xv. 32,) but was afterwards assigned to Simeon. (Josh. xix. 
7, i Chron. iv. 32.) 

38. Moladak was also one of the cities assigned first to 
Judah and afterwards to Simeon. (Josh. xv. 26, xix. 2, 
1 Chron. iv. 28.) 

39. Ziklag was situated far south, on the borders of 
Edom, near the brook Besor. (See p. 100.) It was given 
first to Judah, and afterwards to Simeon ; (Josh. xv. 31, 
xix. 5 ;) but, in the time of Saul, was in the hands of the 
Philistines. By Achish, king of Gath, it was given to Da- 
vid ; (1 Sam. xxvii. 5, 6 ;) but, during his absence, was 
burnt by the Amalekites, for which outrage he took ample 
vengeance. (1 Sam. xxx. 1 — 6.) 

40. Juttah (Josh. xv. 55,) is supposed, by some, to have 
been the city where the parents of John the Baptist dwelt, 
(Luke i. 39,) as it was situated in " the hill country," and 
was also a city of the priests. (Josh. xxi. 16.) Its precise 
situation is unknown, as well as that of Beth-tappuah, Esh- 
termoa and Bezek 

41. Aphek, where the Israelites were twice defeated by 
the Philistines, with the loss of the ark, (1 Sam. iv. 1 — 11, 
v. 1,) was situated on the borders of Judah and Benjamin, 
w T est of Jerusalem. 

42. Dor, one of the old Canaanitish royal cities, (Josh, 
xii. 23. — See also Josh. xvii. 11, 1 Chron. vii. 29, Judg. i. 
27, 1 Kings iv. 11,) is now a little town on the Mediter- 
ranean coast, between Carmel and Csesarea. 

43. Casarea, by some writers called Cascuea of Pales- 
tine, to distinguish it from Csesarea Philippi, (see p. 120,) 
was situated on the Mediterranean coast. The town was 



PALESTINE. 159 

adorned with splendid edifices, and furnished with a fine 
artificial harbour, by Herod the Great, who called it Csesa- 
rea, in honour of Augustus Caesar, to whom he built a 
temple here. It was inhabited both by Greeks and Jews, 
between whom dissensions were perpetually arising, which 
gradually led the way to the general rebellion that occa- 
sioned the destruction of Jerusalem. After that event, it 
became the chief city of Palestine, and the residence of the 
Roman governor. (Acts xxiii. 23 — 33, xxiv. 27, xxv. 1.) 
Cornelius, the centurion, whose conversion is related in the 
tenth chapter of Acts, resided at this place. The apostle 
Paul was repeatedly at Csesarea. (Acts ix. 29, 30, xviii. 
21C 22, xxi. 7, 8, 9.) The last time, he was sent there by 
Claudius Lysias, the chief captain at Jerusalem, and re- 
mained there in imprisonment two years. It was at Csesa- 
rea that he defended himself before Felix, Festus, and 
Agrippa, and appealed to Caesar, in consequence of which 
he was sent to Rome. (Acts xxiii. 23 — 33, xxvi. 27, xxvii. 
1.) In the beginning of the twelfth century, Csesarea was 
taken by the crusaders, under Baldwin I. king of Jerusa- 
lem. At the end of the same century, it was conquered by 
the celebrated Saladin. It is now a miserable hamlet of 
fishers' huts, surrounded by stately ruins. 

43. Antipatris, between Jerusalem and Csesarea, was 
founded by Herod the Great, and called after his father. 
Here Paul was brought by the Roman guard, at night, on 
his way to Caesarea. (x\cts xxiii. 31, 32.) The place has 
now disappeared. 

44. Lod or Lydda, a city of Benjamin, (Neh. xi. 35, 
Ezra ii. 33,) near Joppa, (Acts ix. 38,) where Peter healed 
Eneas of the palsy, (33 — 35,) was burnt by the Romans 
during the war in Palestine, while the inhabitants were 
attending the feast of tabernacles, at Jerusalem. It was 
afterwards rebuilt under the name of Diospolis, or the city 
of Jupiter. Lydda was, in the twelfth century, the see of 
the bishop of St. George's ; so called, from the cathedral 
church built over the grave of St. George, a christian who 
is said to have suffered martyrdom there, in one of the 
early persecutions. The place is now in ruins. 

45. Japho called by the Greeks Joppa, and by the 



GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

Arabs Jaffa, is one of the oldest towns in Asia. It belonged 
to the tribe of Dan, (Josh. xix. 46,) and was celebrated for 
its harbour from the earliest times. The timber hewn 
upon Mount Lebanon, for Solomon, was floated to this 
port. (2 Chron. ii. 16.) When the prophet Jonah fled to 
avoid the duty which had been assigned to him, he came 
to Joppa to embark for Tarshish. (Jon. i. 3.) Here Peter 
raised Tabitha from the dead ; (Acts ix. 36 — 42 ;) and here, 
in the house of Simon, a tanner, he saw an emblematical 
vision, indicating that the gospel should be preached, not 
to the Jews only, but also to the Gentiles. (Acts x. 9, xi. 1.) 
In the war with the Romans, Joppa was burnt, but soon 
rebuilt. Afterwards, however, it became the strong-hold 
of pirates, who infested the neighbouring seas, in conse- 
quence of which it was utterly destroyed. It was again 
rebuilt in the time of the crusades, and soon became flour- 
ishing, as being the only good harbour on the coast of 
Palestine. It still prospers, being the landing place of all 
pilgrims who visit the Holy Land, and the port through 
which almost all imports and exports pass. The town is 
surrounded with gardens, and orchards of fig, apple, citron, 
and pomegranate trees. 

46. Zorah was a city belonging first, to Judah, (Josh, 
xv. 33,) and afterwards to Dan. (Josh. xix. 41.) Here 
Samson was born. (Judg. xiii. 2, 24.) Not far from Zo- 
rah, was the place called Mahaneh~dan, or the Camp of 
Dan, because six hundred Danites here assembled, when 
about to migrate towards the north, in search of a new 
residence. (Judg. xviii. 11, 12. — See p. 126.) 

47. Beth-shemesh. a city of the priests, (Josh. xxi. 16,) 
situated on the borders of Dan and Judah, (Josh. xv. 10,) 
is sometimes called " Beth-shemesh, which belongeth to 
Judah," (2 Kings xiv. 11, 2 Chron. xxv. 21,) to distin- 
guish it from another Beth-shemesh in Naphtali, (Josh, 
xix. 38, Judg. i. 33,) and a third in the land of Egypt. 
(Jer. xliii. 13.) When the Philistines were smitten, on 
account of the ark which they had taken in battle, they 
sent it to Beth-shemesh, where some of the people looking 
into it, a pestilence swept off more than fifty thousand* 

* Some have supposed this to be an error of a copyist fox five thousand. 



PALESTINE. 161 

men. It was then removed to Kirjath-jearim. (1 Sam. vi. 
19 — 21. — See p. 144.) A battle was fought near Beth- 
shemesh, between Amaziah, king of Judah, and Joash, 
king of Israel, in which the latter was defeated and taken 
prisoner. (2 Kings xiv. 11 — 13.) In the reign of Ahaz, 
king of Judah, the Philistines took possession of Beth-she- 
mesh. (2 Chron. xxviii. 18.) 

48. There w r ere two towns called Ajalon : one in the 
valley of Ajalon, (see p. 89,) in Dan ; (Josh. xix. 42;) the 
other in the tribe of Zebulon. Here Elon, the judge, was 
buried. (Judg. xii. 12.) 

49. Timnath or Timnah^ situated on the northern boun- 
dary of the tribe of Judah, w T as one of the oldest towns of 
Palestine. It is mentioned in Gen. xxxviii. 12. In Sam- 
son's time it belonged to the Philistines ; (Judg. xiv. 1, % 
xv. 1 — 6;) and though it appears to have been subject to 
David, Solomon, and their successors, we find it again in the 
hands of the Philistines. (2 Chron. xxviii. 18.) 

50. Libnah was a city of the priests, (Josh. xxi. 13, 1 
Chron. vi. 57,) within the bounds of Judah. (Josh. xv. 42.) 
In the reign of Joram, the inhabitants of this place revolted 
from him. (2 Kings viii. 22, 2 Chron. xxi. 10.) In the 
reign of Hezekiah, Libnah was taken by the Assyrians. 
(2 Kings xix. 8, Isa. xxxvii. 8.) There are two other 
places of the same name mentioned in Scripture — one in 
the wilderness of Mount Sinai, (Num. xxxiii. 20,) the other 
in the tribe of Asher. (Josh. xix. 26.) 

51. Makkedah was one of the royal Canaanitish cities, 
(Josh. xii. 16,) conquered by Joshua; (x. 3, 9 — 14, 22 — 
27.) In the neighbourhood was the cave where five kings 
concealed themselves after their defeat. 

52. Lachish, (2 Chron. xi. 9, Mic. i. 13, Neh. xi. 30,) 
whose king was one of the five just mentioned, (Josh. x. 3, 
9 — 14, 22—27,) and whose inhabitants so long withstood 
Nebuchadnezzar. (Jer. xxxiv. 7.) 

53. Asekah, (Josh. xv. 35, Jer. xxxiv. 7,) between 

o 2 



162 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

which place and Shochoh, the Philistines were mustered 
before Goliath's death. (1 Sam. xvii. 1.) 

54. Shochoh, the name of two places in Judea, one on 
the plain, the other in the mountains, (Josh. xv. 35, 1 Sam 
xvii. 1,) probably not far apart. 

55. Keilah (Josh. xv. 44,) was delivered by David from 
the Philistines, (1 Sam.xxiii. 5,) and is the place where the 
prophet Habakkuk is supposed to have been buried. 

56. Adullam, (Josh. xii. 15, xv. 35, 2 Chron. xi. 7, Neh, 
xi. 3,) one of the oldest towns of Canaan, (Gen. xxxviii. 1, 
12, 20,) in a cave near which David concealed himself. 
(1 Sam. xxii. 1, 2.) 

57. Eglon, (Josh. xv. 39,) between Lachish and Hebron. 
(Josh. x. 35, 36.) 

58. Jtshanftfosh. xv. 42, xix. 7, 1 Chron. vi. 59,) situ- 
ated about 15 Roman miles west of Jerusalem. 

59. Ether, (Josh. xv. 42,) one of the places among which 
David distributed the spoil won from the Amalekites. 
(1 Sam. xxx. 27.) 

60. Zenan, on the Mediterranean ; (Josh. xv. 37 ;) per- 
haps the same with Zaanan. (Mic. i. 11.) 



LAND OF THE PHILISTINES. 

It appears, from Gen. x. 13, 14, that the Philistines 
were of Egyptian origin, though they came to Palestine 
immediately from Capktor, (Amos ix. 7,) which is supposed 
to have been the same with the island Crete. On their 
arrival in Canaan, they drove out the Avim from the mari- 
time region between Joppa and the Egyptian border, and 
took up their abode there, (Deut. ii. 23.) Here they were 
living in the time of Abraham, governed by a king who 
dwelt at Gerar. (Gen. xxvi. 1, xx. 2.) When the He- 
brews, under Joshua, invaded Canaan, the Philistines were 
divided into five principalities, under as many lords. (Josh. 



PALESTINE. 163 

xiii. 3.) In the time of Saul, we read of " Achish, king 
of Gath," (1 Sam. xxi. 10, xxvii. 2,) in the land of the 
Philistines. This prince is, in the title of the 34th Psalm, 
called Abimelech ; and as the king who was Abraham's 
contemporary, bore the same name, it is probable that it 
was a royal title, similar to that of Pharaoh in Egypt, and 
Caesar in Rome. With the Israelites, the Philistines were, 
from the beginning, in perpetual war. (Judg. x. 11.) Many 
battles between them are recorded in the history of Saul 
and David, with various results. (1 Sam. iv. vii. 13, xvii. 
2 Sam. v. 17, viii. 1, xxiii. 9.) The Philistines were 
tributary to Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, but after his death 
revolted. (2 Chron. xviii. 11, xxi. 16.) They were again 
subdued by Uzziah, who built cities in their territory ; 
(2 Chron. xxvi. 6, 7;) but in the reign of his son Ahaz, 
they took several cities of Judah. Nevertheless, Isaiah 
represents them as rejoicing at the death of that king, be- 
cause the rod of him that smote them was broken. (Isa. xiv. 
29.) Hezekiah defeated them, (2 Kings xviii. 8,) and. 
soon after, Ashdod, one of their cities, was taken by the 
Assyrians. (2 Kings xviii. 17, Isa. xx. 1.) After the de- 
struction of Jerusalem, Jeremiah and Ezekiel threaten the 
Philistines with a similar calamity ; (Jer. xlvii. Ezek. xxv. 
15;) which probably came to pass, as we read no more of 
them in history. 

The towns mentioned in Scripture, as belonging to the 
Philistines, are : — 

1. Jabneh or Jabneel, (Josh. xv. 11, 2 Chron. xxvi. 6,) 
situated a few miles west of Ramlah, (see p. 145,) on the 
road to Gaza. By the Greeks and Romans it was called 
Jamnia. In later times a celebrated Jewish school flourished 
here. 

2. Ekron was given by Joshua first, to the tribe of Judah, 
(Josh. xv. 45, Judg. i. 18,) and afterwards to that of Dan ; 
(Josh. xix. 43 ;) but seems to have been always in the 
hands of the Philistines. (1 Sam. vi. 17, Amos i. 8, Zeph. 
ii. 4, Jer. xxv. 20, Zech. ix. 5, 7.) When the Philistines 
took the ark of the covenant, they carried it, first to Ash- 
dod, and then to Ekron. (1 Sam. v. 7 : — 10.) To Ekron 
Ahaziah, king of Judah, sent, when sick, to inquire of 
Beel-zebub, a god of the Philistines. (2 Kings ii. 1 — 16.) 



164 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

3. Gath, within the bounds of the tribe of Dan, was, in 
the days of David, the residence of a Philistine king, named 
Achish, with whom David himself sought refuge twice, 
when his life was sought by Saul. (1 Sam. xxi. 10 — 15, 
xxvii. 1 — 7.) When David, however, became king, he 
prosecuted the war against the Philistines, with far more 
zeal and success than his predecessor, in the course of it 
taking Gath with its dependencies. (1 Chron. xviii. 1.) 
Yet when he retired before Absalom, he was accompa- 
nied by a guard of six hundred men from Gath. (2 Sam. 
xv. 18.) In the beginning of the reign of Solomon, we 
find Achish still reigning, or another of the same name ; 
(1 Kings ii. 39 ;) but the place seems to have been taken 
soon after by Solomon. (1 Kings iv. 24, 2 Chron. xi. 8.) 
In the reign of Joash, it was conquered by Hazael, king of 
Syria, (2 Kings xii. 17,) but was soon retaken. (2 Kings 
xiii. 25.) By Uzziah the walls were broken down. (2 
Chron. xxvi. 6.) After this time, it is mentioned no more 
in sacred history. 

4. Ashdod, (Josh. xv. 46, 47,) is mentioned (Josh. xiii. 
3,) as one of the five cities of the Philistines. Here was 
the temple of Dagon, in which the Philistines placed the 
ark. (1 Sam. v. 1, 2, 5.) The walls of this city, also, 
were broken down by Uzziah. (2 Chron. xxvi. 6.) When 
Sargon, king of Assyria, undertook an expedition against 
Egypt, his general fought against Ashdod, and took it. (Is. 
xx. I.) It was afterwards taken and dismantled by Psam- 
metichus, king of Egypt, in consequence of which Jere- 
miah speaks of it as " the remnant of Ashdod ;" (xxv. 20.) 
After the return of the Jews from captivity, the people of 
Ashdod opposed the rebuilding of the temple ; notwith- 
standing which, the Jews continued to intermarry with 
them, contrary to God's command. (Neh. iv. 7, xiii. 23 — 
27.) By the Greeks Ashdod was called Azotus, under 
which name it is mentioned Acts viii. 39, 40. It is now 
in ruins, and is famous only for its scorpions. 

5. Askelon, on the Mediterranean sea, five miles north 
of Gaza, (Josh. xiii. 3, 1 Sam. vi. 17, Amos i. 8, Zeph. ii. 
4, Judg. i. 18,) does not appear to have been ever taken 
by Solomon or David. In the fourth century it was a 
bishop's see. In the time of the crusades, it was taken by 



PALESTINE. 165 

the Christians ; but was afterwards retaken by Saladin, 
who reduced it to ashes. After it had been partially re- 
built, it was again destroyed by the mutual consent of 
Christians and Mohammedans. Since that time it has 
been a heap of ruins. 

6. Gaza is the most southern point in the sea-coast of 
Palestine. (Gen. x. 19.) It was, for some time, in the pos- 
session of the tribe of Judah ; (Josh. xv. 47, Judg. i. 18 ;) 
but seems to have been soon regained by the Philistines, 
and to have afterwards continued in their hands. (Judg. 
xvi. 1 — 3, 21 — 31, 1 Sam. vi. 17.) It was once taken 
by Alexander the Great. 

In the time of Eusebius, it was a flourishing city, and a 
bishop's see. In 634 it was taken by the Saracens, in 1152 
by Baldwin, king of Jerusalem, and in 1187 by Saladin. 
At present it consists of three small villages, in a pleasant 
situation, and abounds in ancient ruins. 

-7. South-east of Gaza, " between Kadesh and Shur," 
(Gen. xx. 1,) was Gerar, (2 Chron. xiv. 12 — 14,) the resi- 
dence of a Philistine king or prince. (Gen. xxvi. 8.) Both 
Abraham and Isaac resorted to this place, when compelled 
by a prevailing famine to leave their usual residence, and 
both here practised a similar deception on Abimelech. (Gen. 
xx. 1, xxvi. 1.) 

The valley of Gerar, where Isaac dwelt, (Gen. xxvi. 
17,) was no doubt in the neighbourhood. In this valley, 
Constantine the Great built a monastery. 



FHENICXA. 

Phenicia, or as it was called in the time of Christ, Syro- 
Phenicia, (because then included in the bounds of Syria,) 
is a narrow tract of land along the sea-coast, about 80 miles 
in length, and 12 in breadth ; bounded, on the east, by 
Mount Lebanon, Samaria, and Galilee, and stretching from 
the island of Arvad, or Aradus, on the north, to Sidon on 
the south. This region was reckoned a part of the land 



166 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

of Canaan, as appears from Matt. xv. 22, 24, where the 
same person is described as a woman of Canaan, who, in 
Mark vii. 26, is called a Syro-Phenician. 

The face of the country is uneven, being broken by 
chains of hills, some of which project into the sea, forming 
abrupt promontories. Here and there, however, between 
the mountains and the sea, there are plains of moderate 
extent. 

Phenicia is watered by a number of considerable rivers, 
which flow from Mount Lebanon into the sea. The largest 
and most northerly of these was called, by the ancient 
Greeks Eleutheros, and by the Arabs of the present day, 
Nahr-el~kebir, (the Great River.) 

Some miles further south, is the Nahr-kadisha, or Holy 
River. 

A little to the south of Gebal, is the River of Abraham, 
called by the Greeks Adonis, from a heathen deity of that 
name, who, in his mortal state, is said to have been wound- 
ed by a wild boar, on Mount Lebanon. His name was 
given to this river, because, at the time of the year when 
his death was celebrated, the waters of the stream were 
always red. This circumstance is occasioned by the pas- 
sage of the stream through the red earth of Mount Leba- 
non, which imparts its colour to the water, when softened 
and washed down in the rainy season. 

Between Gebal and Beyroot is the mouth of the Nahr- 
kalb, or Dog River, called by the Greeks the Wolf River. 

South of the Beyroot flows the Damir, anciently called 
Tamyras, a beautiful clear stream, bordered, throughout its 
course, with laurel-trees and roses. 

Further towards Tyre, the Kasnich, or Leitane, rises in 
a wild glen, and meanders through delightful meadows. 

Besides these larger rivers, there are many minor streams, 
and innumerable brooks. 

The climate of Phenicia is mild. The spring and autumn 
are very pleasant, and the summer moderately warm, ex- 
cept on the sea-coast, where the heat is frequently oppres- 
sive. The winter is so mild, that the most delicate trees 
and plants continue green, and thrive throughout the sea- 
son, in the open fields. 

The soil is very fertile. Besides wheat, rye, barley, and 
the cotton-plant, it produces, in abundance, pomegranates, 
figs, dates, olives, and other fruits, of the best quality, 



PALESTINE. 167 

while its vines furnish excellent wines. In some parts, too, 
the mulberry and the sugar-cane are cultivated. This rich 
abundance, in the midst of the disadvantages of an imper- 
fect agriculture and a despotic government, evinces the 
truth of the descriptions given by the ancients of the wealth 
and splendour of Phenicia. At the present time, however, 
its cities, once so celebrated for their trade and opulence, 
are nothing more than hamlets erected upon ruins. 

1. Arvad, or Aradus, now called Ruwad, is situated on 
a rocky island at the northern extremity of Phenicia. It 
was probably founded by the Awadites, one of the Canaan - 
itish tribes which settled in this region. (Gen. x. 18. — See 
p. 104.) In the time of the prophet Ezekiel, (nearly 600 
years before Christ,) the Arvadites were in the service of 
the Tyrians, both as mariners and soldiers. (Ezek. xxvii. 
8. 11.) This island makes a fine appearance at a distance ; 
but the town is, at present, totally deserted. 

2. Sumrah, a ruinous village, about 24 miles south-east 
of Tortosa, is probably the remnant of an ancient city 
founded by the Zemarites, (Gen. x. 18,) and called after 
their name. 

3. Five miles south-east of Sumrah, and about 25 north 
of Tripoli, are the ruins of Arka, the seat of the ancient 
Arkites. (Gen. x. 17.) The site is a delightful one, being 
directly opposite the northern extremity of Lebanon, and 
commanding a delightful prospect. On the summit of a 
neighbouring hill, there once stood a castle, in ancient 
times, esteemed impregnable. West of this hill is the deep 
valley of Acca, through which flows a stream of the same 
name. 

4. The village of Sin, at the south-western extremity of 
Lebanon, stands, probably, upon the site of the city of the 
Smites, another old Phenician tribe. (Gen. x. 17.) 

5. Tripoli, situated at the foot of Mount Lebanon, upon 
the Kadisha, was built by three Phenician states, Aradus, 
Tyre, and Sidon, and thence called Tripolis, or the triple 
city. It was once a great commercial mart, and has still 
considerable trade, its harbour being the best upon the 



168 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE, 

Syrian coast. It is surrounded with orchards, and abounds 
with fruit, but is exceedingly unhealthy. 

6. Jiblah, or Jibail, the Gebal of the Old Testament, 
called by the Greeks and Romans By bios, is situated on an 
eminence near the sea. The land of the Giblites, men- 
tioned in Josh. xiii. 5, is the region round about this place. 
In Ezek. xxvii. 9, the inhabitants of Gebal are spoken of 
as skilled in the art of ship-building. The place is now in 
ruins. 

7. Beyroot, the ancient Berytus, is situated to the west 
of Jiblah, on a peninsula ; having, on the north, a bay, into 
which the river Magoras, now called the river of Beyroot, 
empties ; and, on the east, a hill covered with country- 
houses, mulberry-trees, and vines. It contains above 12,000 
inhabitants, and is the principal commercial place upon the 
coast of Syria. The principal exports are silk and cotton. 
It has, of late years, been more known as a missionary sta- 
tion. Some suppose that Beyroot is the Berothai of 2 Sam. 
viii. 8, and the Berothah of Ezek. xlvii. 16. 

8. Sidon, or Zidon, one of the oldest cities of Phenicia, 
received its name, no doubt, from Sidon, the eldest son of 
Canaan, (Gen. x. 15,) one of the first settlers of this region, 
In Jacob's benediction of his sons, (Gen. xlix. 13,) he pro- 
phesies, that Zebulon's border should be unto Zidon, It is 
called great Zidon in Josh. xi. 8, and xix. 28 ; in the latter 
of which places it is mentioned, that the territory of the 
tribe of Asher included Zidon. In Judg. i. 31, iii. 3, how- 
ever, we find that the Zidonians were not driven out ; and 
in Judg. x. 12, they are mentioned among the nations by 
whom Israel was oppressed. Afterwards there seems to 
have been peace between them ; for, in Judg. xviii. 7, it 
is said, that the inhabitants of Laish dwelt quiet and secure, 
after the manner of the Sidonians* Sidon appears to have 
been older than Tyre ; for the latter is not mentioned with 
it in Gen. x. 15 — 18. The name Sidon appears to have 
been applied, of old, to all Phenicia. 

It appears, from Jer. xxvii. 3, xxv. 22, that Tyre and 
Sidon were, at that time, governed by their own princes. 
In Ezek. xxviii. 21 — 24, there are tremendous threats de- 
nounced against the people of this city, which were ful- 



PALESTINE. 169 

filled in the capture and destruction of the place, by Ar- 
taxerxes Ochus, king of Persia, 350 years before the birth 
of Christ. It was afterwards rebuilt, but never regained 
its independence. 

Sidon was once a place of extensive trade. At present 
its harbour is choked up with sands ; and its commerce, 
though it still subsists, is inconsiderable. Its modern name 
is Saida. 

9. Tyre, or Tyrus, one of the most ancient cities of Phe- 
nicia, now called Sur, is situated on a peninsula, which 
projects into the sea in the form of a mallet, terminating in 
a solid rock covered with earth, 800 paces long, and 400 
broad. There were two cities, on called Palaetyrus, or 
old Tyre, and the other simply Tyre. The former was situ- 
ated on the continent ; the latter on an island. Though 
less ancient than Sidon, Tyre soon rose above it, and be- 
came the richest mart of the ancient world. In Josh. xix. 
29, it is called the strong city Tyre, and in 2 Sam. xxiv. 7, 
the strong -hold of Tyre. In reference to its antiquity, Isaiah 
calls it a city whose antiquity is of ancient days ; (xxiii. 7.) 
From Hiram, king of Tyre, David obtained timber, gold, 
and workmen, for the building of the temple. Hiram also 
sent his ships with those of David to Ophir and Tarshish. 
(1 Kings ix. 10—14, 27, x. 22.) 

In later times, the friendship of the two nations seems to 
have been interrupted, whence the prophets Amos and Joel 
speak of Tyre as of a hostile city. (Amos i. 9, 10, Joel 
iii. 4.) 

At the time of the Assyrian invasion, under Salmanazar, 
Tyre had arrived to such a pitch of opulence and splen- 
dour, that Isaiah speaks of it as the crowning city, whose 
merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of 
the earth. (Isa. xxiii. 8.) It was afterwards taken by Ne- 
buchadnezzar, after a siege of thirteen years ; an event 
predicted by Ezekiel ; (xxvi. xxvii. xxviii.) 

Alexander the Great made several unsuccessful attempts 
to take Tyre, and at length succeeded, by filling up the 
strait, and uniting the island to the continent. 

During the war of the crusades, Tyre was repeatedly 
conquered and re-conquered by the contending parties, till 
about the end of the thirteenth century it passed into the 
hands of the Egyptian sultan. In consequence of this event, 

P 



170 GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLE. 

the Christians left the place, and its manufactures ceased. 
Since that time it has gradually declined, and is, at present, 
a mere hamlet, consisting of not more than fifty families of 
fishermen. 

10. Mearah and Mizrepoth-maim appear to have been 
in the neighbourhood of Sidon ; (Josh. xiii. 4, xi. 8, xiii. 
6 ;) but their precise situation is unknown. 

Phenicia appears to have been divided, from the earliest 
times, into a number of independent principalities. Hiram, 
king of Tyre, has been already mentioned as a contempo- 
rary and confederate of David. Ethbaal, king of the 
Zidonians, was the father of Jezebel, the wife of Ahab. 
(1 Kings xvi. 31.) Third in the order of succession after 
him, came Dido, who fled from her cruel and avaricious 
brother Pygmalion, and founded Carthage, on the coast of 
Africa. 

About seven hundred years before the birth of Christ, 
the Tyrians appear to have assumed a control over all the 
other cities of Phenicia, though Sidon afterwards achieved 
its independence. The prophet Jeremiah speaks of am- 
bassadors sent to king Zedekiah by the kings of Tyre and 
Sidon, (xxvii. 3,) to solicit his co-operation against Ne- 
buchadnezzar. From Ezekiel xxvii. 8, 9, 11, it would 
seem that Tyre was again, in some way, at the head of the 
Phenician states. 

After this period, however, they were conquered suc- 
cessively by the Chaldeans, Persians, and Macedonians. On 
the death of Alexander the Great, Phenicia fell to the share 
of Antiochus, 218 years before Christ. Since that time it 
has always shared in the vicissitudes of Syria. 

The Phenicians are conspicuous in history as having 
been the earliest navigators. Even before the Trojan war, 
more than 1500 years before the birth of Christ, they seem 
to have carried on a foreign trade with the islands of the 
Mediterranean, and the coast of Greece, acting sometimes as 
kidnappers and pirates. They afterwards extended their 
voyages to Spain, and, in the reign of Solomon, to Ophir, 
on the southern coast of Arabia. (1 Kings ix. 27, 28, x. 22.) 
A lively picture of the wide extent of Phenician com- 
merce, is presented in the 27th chapter of Ezekiel. 



PALESTINE. 171 

The Phenicians began also at an early period to establish 
colonies in foreign parts. The most remarkable of these 
were Tarshish, (or Tartessus,) on the river Guodalquiver — 
Gades, the modern Cadiz — Chittim, or Kittim, the isle of 
Cyprus — and Carthage, on the northern coast of Africa. 
In Isaiah xxiii. 6, 12, the prophet exhorts the Tyrians, 
after the destruction of the city, to pass over to the colonies 
of Tarshish and Chittim. Over these colonies Tyre ap- 
pears to have exercised a tyrannical authority, in conse- 
quence of which Ezekiel represents them as exulting over 
the downfal of the mother country ; (xxvi. 17.) 

By some, the Phenicians are supposed to have invented 
the art of writing. Their language was very similar to 
the Hebrew. 



THE END, 



GEOGRAPHICAL INDEX. 



Abana, 39. 


Appii Forum, 77. 


Abarim, 52. 


Apollonia, 74. 


Abel-keramim, 50. 


Ar, 52. 


Abei-meholah, 136. 


Arabia, 46. 


Abilene, 41, 119. 


" deserta, 47. 


Abel-shittim, 123. 


Arabia felix, or happy Arab; 


Abraham, river of, 166. 


58. 


Acad, 23. 


Arabia petraea, or stony Ar 


Accho, 127. 


bia, 51. 


Achaia, 75. 


Aram, 37, 39. 


Achor, vale of, 90. 


Aram-beth-rehob, 40. 


Achshaph, 127. 


Aram of Damascus, 39. 


Achzib, 127. 


Aram-maacah, 40. 


Acmetha, 17. 


Aram-naharaim, 27. 


Adiabene, 25. 


Aram-zoba, 39. 


Adonis, river, 166. 


Ararat, kingdom of 15, 16. 


Adullam, 162. 


Ararat, mount, 16. 


Adummim, 92, 


Arba, 103. 


j^gaean, or Egean, 71. 


Areopolis, 52. 


Aenon, 136. 


Arka, 167. 


Africa, North, 69. 


Arkites, 104, 167. 


Ahiman, 103, 104. 


Armenia, 15. 


Ai, vale of 89 142. 


Arnon, 51, 100. 


Aiath, 142. 


Aroer, 50, 110. 


Aijah, 142. 


Arpad, 40. 


Ajalon, vale of 89, 161. 


Arphaxad, 25. 


Aleppo, 42. 


Arsinoe, 34. 


Alexandria, 65. 


Aruma, 136. 


Almon-diblathaim, 58. 


Arvad, 165, 167. 


Alush, 57. 


Arvadites, 104, 167. 


Amalekites, 54. 


Asekah, 161. 


Am ana, 38. 


Ashan, 162. 


Amasia, 30. 


Ashdod, 164. 


Ammonites, 49. 


Asher, tribe of 116. 


Amon-no, 66. 


Ashkenaz, 14. 


Amorites, 105. 


Ashtaroth, 112, 121. 


Amphipolis, 74. 


Asia. 29. 


Anakim, 103. 


Asia Minor, 30. 


Anathoth, 145. 


Askelon, 164. 


Ancyra, 37. 


Asphaltites, lake, 95. 


Anti-libanus, 38. 


Asshur, 24. 


Antioch, 41. 


Assos, 82. 


Antonia, tower of 150. 


Assyria, 24. 


Antipatris, 159. * 


Athens, 75. 


Aphek, 132, 158. 


Attalia, 34. 


p2 


173 



174 



GEOGRAPHICAL INDEX. 



Auranitis, 120. 
A vim, 103. 
Azotus, 164. 

Baalah, 144. 
Baal-gad, 43. 
Baal-meon, 109. 
Baal-perazim, 84. 
Babel, 21. 
Babylon, 20, 22. 
Balbec, 43. 
Bamoth, 58. 
Bashan r 86. 
Batanaea, 120. 

Beatitudes, mount of the, 82. 
Beer, 58. 
Beeroth, 144. 
Beersheba, 93, 157. 
Belkah, 51. 
Bene-jaakan, 58. 
Benjamin, tribe of, 115, 
Berea, 75. 
Berothah, 44, 126. 
Berothai, 39, 44, 168, 
Besor, 100. 
Betah, 44. 
Beth-abara, 123. 
Bethany, 155. 
Beth-aven, 93. 
Beth-bara, 123. 
Beth-eden, 44. 
Bethel, 137. 
Bethesda, 154. 
Beth-horon, 146. 
Beth-jesimoth, 123. 
Bethlehem, 155. 
Beth-diblathaim, 52. 
Beth-nimrah, 111. 
Beth-peor, 91. 
Bethphage, 155. 
Bethsaida, 95, 121, 129. 
" forests of 92. 
Beth-sheah, 17, 133. 
Beth-shemesh, 65, 160, 
Beyroot, 44, 168. 
Bezer, 123. 
Bithynia, 31. 
Bozrah, 122. 

Caesarea Philippi, 120. 



Cassarea, 158. 
Calah, 25. 
Calneh, 23. 
Cana, 130. 
Canaan, 78. 
Canaanites, 104. 
Candia, 73. 
Capernaum, 95, 129. 
Caphtor, 73. 
Cappadocia, 35. 
Carchemish, 28. 
Caria, 34. 

Carmel, mount, 81. 
Carmel, 141. 
Casluhim, 70. 
Cataractes, 34. 
Caves of Palestine, 87. 
Cayster, 32. 
Cedron, 100. 
Cerasus, 30. 
Chaboras, 27. 
Chalach, 25. 
Chalcedon, 31. 
Chaldea, 20. 
Charran, 28. 
Chebar, 27. 
Chephirah, 144. 
Cherith, 99. 
Chinnereth, 94. 
Chios, 71. 
Chittim, 72. 
Chorazin, 95, 129. 
Chrysorroas, 39. 
Chub, 69. 

Chushan-rishathaim, 29. 
Cilicia, 35. 
Cinneroth, 94, 128. 
Clauda, 73. 
Cnidus, 34. 
Ccele-Syria, 37. 
Colosse, 36. 
Coos, or Cos, 72. 
Corinth, 76. 

Corruption, mount of 84« 
Crete, 73. 
Cush, 59. 
Cushan, 59. 
Cutha, 23. 
Cydnus, 35. 
Cyprus, 72. 



GEOGRAPHICAL INDEX. 



175 



Cyrene, 70. 
Cyrenaica, 70. 

Daberath, 131. 

Damascus, 43. 

Dan, tribe of, 116. 

Dan, 126. 

Daphne, 65. 

Debir, 157. 

Decapolis, 120. 

Dedan, 49, 59. 

Derbe, 36. 

Deserts of Palestine, 92. 

Diblathaim, 52. 

Dibon, 110. 

Dibon-gad, 58. 

Diospolis, 159. 

Division among tribes, 108. 

Dophkah, 57. 

Dor, 158. 

Dothan, 133. 

Dumah, 49. 

Dura, 23. 

East Sea, 95. 

Ebal, mount, 83. 

Ebronah, 58. 

Ecbatana, 17. 

Eden, 7. 

Edom, 53. 

Edrei, 112, 121. 

Egean islands, 71. 

Eglon, 162. 

Egypt, 61. 

Egypt, divisions of, 63. 

" Lower, 64,~65. 

" Middle, 66. 

" Upper, 66. 
Ekron, 116, 163. 
Elah, valley of, 89. 
Elam, Elamites, 18. 
Elanitic Gulf, 55. 
Elath, 54. 
Elealeh, 109. 
Eleutherus, 39. 
Elim, 57. 
Ellasar, 29. 
Elishah, 76. 
El-Tyh, 55. 
Emim, 51, 103. 



Emmaus, 147. 

Endor, 131. 

En-eglaim, 101. 

En-gannin, 101. 

En-gedi, wilderness of 93. 

En-gedi, 101, 141. 

Ephah, 55. 

Ephesus, 33. 

Ephraim, city of 138. 
" forest of 94, 
" mount, 83. 
" tribe of 113. 

Ephrath, 155. 

Erech, 23. 

Esdrelon, 82. 

Etham, 56. 

Ether, 162. 

Ethiopia, 59, 68. 

Euphrates, 8, 9. 

Ezion-geber, 54, 58. 

Fair Havens, 73. 
Forests of Palestine, 92. 
Fertility of Palestine, 102. 

Gaash, hill of, 83. 
Gad, tribe of 110. 
Gadara, 120, 121. 
Galatia, 37. 
Galilee, 124. 
Galilee, sea of, 94. 
Gallim, 145. 

Gates of Jerusalem, 148. 
Gath, 164. 
Gath-hepher, 130. 
Gaulonitis, 119. 
Gaza, 175. 
Gennesaret, 94. 
Geba, 142. 
Gebal, 168. 
Gebim, 146. 
Gerar, 165. 
Gerizim, mount, 83. 
Geshur, 40. 
Gether, 13. 
Gethsemane, 153. 
Gezer, 146. 
Gibeah, 143. 
Gibeon, 143. 
Gideon, valley of, 89. 



176 



GEOGRAPHICAL INDEX. 



Gideon, wilderness of 93. 
Gihon, 9. 
Gilboa, 82. 
Gilead, 111. 
Gilead, mount, 86, 
Gilgal, 135, 140. 
Girgashites, 12. 
Gittah-hepher, 130. 
Gog, 14, 
Golan, 119, 12L 
Gomer, 11, 14. 
Goshen, 64, 157. 
Gozan, 26. 
Greece, 73, 74. 

Habor, 2& 
Hadrach, 40. 
Hagar-enan, 44. 
Hagarites, 48. 
Hai, see Ai. 
Halah, 25. 
Halys, 29. 
Hamath, 40, 42, 
Ham&thites, 104. 
Hanes, 66. 
Haradah, 57, 
Haran, 28. 
Hareth, 94, 
Harod, 10L 
Harosheth, 127. 
Hawran, 40, 
Hazar-hatticon, 44, 
Hazar-maveth, 60. 
Hazazon-tamar, 140. 
Hazeroth, 57, 
Hazor, 127. 
Hebrews, land of 79. 
Hebron, 90, 156. 
Helam, 45. 
Helbon, 42. 
Heliopolis, 43, 64. 
Henah, 28. 
Herakleopolis, 66. 
Hermon, 38. 
Hermus, 36. 
Heshbon, 109: 
Hethlon, 44. 
Hiddekel, 8, 9, 24. 
Hierapolis, 37. 
Hinnom, 90. 



Hippo, 95, 120. 
Hittites, 104, 106. 
Hivites, 104, 105. 
Hor, mount, 38, 53, 58. 
Hobah, 44. 
Holy Land, 79. 
Horeb, mount, 56. 
Horim, 53. 
Horites, 87, 103. 
Horma, 158. 
Horonaim, 52. 

Iconium, 35. 

Idumea, 53. 

Ije-abarim, 58. 

Illyricum, 75. 

India, 78. 

Inhabitants of Canaan, 102» 

Ionia, 33. 

Ishmaelites, 48. 

Islands, Isles of sea, 71. 

Islands of Egean, 71. 

Israel, land of 78. 

" kingdom of 117. 
Issachar, tribe of 116. 
Italy, 76. 
Ituraea, 119. 

Jabbok, 100. 

Jabesh-gilead, 122. 

Jabneel, 163. 

Jabneh, 163. 

Jacob's well, 101, 135. 

Jaffa, 159. 

Jahaz, 110. 

Jair, towns of, 112. 

Japho, 159. 

Javan, 74. 

Jazer, sea of 96. 

Jebusites, 105. 

Jehoshaphat, valley of 89, 154, 

Jericho, 139. 

plain of 88. 

waters of 99. 

wilderness of 92. 
Jerusalem, ancient, 147. 
" modern, 152* 
Jetur, 49. 
Jezreel, 133. 

" valley of 88. 



u 



GEOGRAPHICAL INDEX. 



177 



Jezreel, plain of 82. 

Jipthah-El, vale of 88. 

Jokneam, 128. 

Joktan, 60. 

Joktheel, 53. 

Joppa, 159. 

Jordan, 97. 

" plain of 87. 

Joseph, territory of, 113. 

Jotbathah, 58. 

Judah, land of 79. 
" mountains of 84. 
* tribe of 112. ' 
u wilderness of 93. 

Judea, 79, 112, 139. 

Juttah, 158. 

Kadesh, 53. 
Kanah, 99. 
Kedar, 48. 
Kedemoth, 124. 
Kedesh, 126. 
Kedesh-naphtali, 126. 
Kedron, 100. 
Kehelathah, 57. 
Keilah, 162. 
Kenath, 112. 
Kenites, 54, 104. 
Kibroth-hattaavah, 57. 
Kidron, 100. 
Kir, 26. 

Kir of Moab, 52. 
Kir-hareseth, 52. 
Kir-heres, 52. 
Kirjath, 144. 
Kirjath-aim, 109. 
Kirjath-baal, 144. 
Kirjath-jearim, 144. 
Kirjath-arba, 156. 
Kirjath-sepher, 157. 
Kishon, 99. 
Kittim, 72. 

Laehish, 161. 
Laish, 40, 145, 126. 
Lakes of Palestine, 94. 
Land of promise, 79. 
Laodicea, 36. 
Lasea, 73. 
Lebanon, 38, 81. 



Lebonah, 136. 
Lehabim, 70. 
Lesbos, 71. 
Leshem, 126. 
Libanus, 38. 
Libnah, 57, 161. 
Lod, 159. 
Lo-debar, 122. 
Lubim, 70. 
Ludim, 70. 
Luhith, 52. 
Luz, 136. 
Lybia, 70. 
Lycaonia, 35. 
Lycia, 34. 
Lycus, 36. 
Lydia, 32, 72. 
Lystra, 36. 

Maacah, 40. 

Macedonia, 74. 

Madai, 17. 

Madian, 55. 

Madmen, 52. 

Madmenah, 146. 

Magdala, 129. 

Magog, 14. 

Mahanaim, 111. 

Makheloth, 57. 

Makkedah, 161. 

Malta, 77. 

Manasseh, tribe of 111, 114. 

Maon, 93, 141. 

Marah, 57. 

Marsyas, 36. 

Mash, 27. 

Mashmonah, 58. 

Mattanah, 58. 

Meander, 32. 

Mearah, 170. 

Medaba, 109 

Media, 17. 

Megiddo, 132. 

" waters of 99. 
Melah, 94. 
Melita, 77. 
Memphis, 66. 
Mephaath, 124. 
Meroe, 69. 
Merom, waters of 94. 



178 



GEOGRAPHICAL INDEX, 



Mesech, 14. 

Mesopotamia, 27. 

Mesha, 60. 

Midian, 49. 

Midianites, 54. 

Migdol, 62. 

Migron, 14L 

Miletus, 34. 

Minni, 15. 

Minnith, 49. 

Mithcah, 57. 

Mitylene, 71. 

Mizpah, 111, 147. 

Mizrepoth-maim, 170. 

Mizraim, 61. 

Moab, plains of, 91. 

Moabites, 51. 

Moladak, 158. 

Moseroth, 58. 

Mountains of Palestine, 81. 

Myra, 34. 

Mysia, 31. 

Nabatheans, 48, 51. 
Nablus, 82. 
Nahaliel, 58. 
Nain, 131. 
Naphish, 49. 
Naphthali, tribe of 116. 
Nazareth, 130. 
Neapolis, 74, 135. 
Nebaioth, 48. 
Nebo, 86, 124. 
Nice, 31. 
Nicopolis, 74, 
Nile, 62. 
Nimrim, 52. 
Nineveh, 25. 
No, 66. 
Nob, 146. 
Nod, land of 10. 
Noph, 66. 
Nubia, 20. 

North, The countries so called, 
14. 

Oboth, 58. 
Olivet, mount of, 84. 
Olivet, 84. 
Olympus, mount, 3L 



On, 64. 
Ono, 88. 
Ophir, 60. 
Orontes, 39. 

Pactolus, 32. 
Palestine, 78. 
Padan-aram, 27. 

" boundaries of 79. 

" face of the land 
of 80. 

K mountains of 81. 
Palmyra, 43. 
Pamphylia, 34. 
Paphlagonia, 31. 
Paphos, 73. 
Paras, 19. 
Parthenius, 31. 
Passengers, valley of 91. 
Patara, 34. 
Pathros,66. 
Pathrusim, 66. 
Patmos, 72. 
Pelusium, 64. 
Peniel, 122. 
Pentapolis, 70. 
Penuel, 122. 
Peor, mount, 52. 
Peraea, 119, 120. 
Perazim, mount, 84. 
Perga, 35. 
Pergamus, 32. 
Perizzites, 104. 
Persia, 19. 
Pharpar, 39. 
Phenice, 73. 
Phenicia, 165. 
Phibeseth, 64. 
Philadelphia, 32, 50. 
Philippi, 74. 
Philistines, land of 162. 
Phrygia, 36. 
Phut, 70. 
Pi-hahiroth, 56. 
Pisidia, 35. 
Pison, 9. 
Pisgah, 86. 
Pithom, 64. 

Plains of Palestine, 87. 
Pontus, 30. 






GEOGRAPHICAL INDEX. 



179 



Ptolemais, 128. 
Pul, 70. 
Punon, 58. 
Pyramus, 30. 

Quarantania, 85. 

Raamah, 59. 
Raamses, 64. 
Rabatha, 50. 
Rabbah, 52. 
Rabbath, 50. 

" Moab, 52. 
Rahab, 61. 
Ramah, 144. 
Ramathaim-zophim, 14 
Rameses, 56, 64. 
Ramoth-gilead, 111. 
Rehob, 126. 
Rehoboth, 25, 42. 
Rephaim, 103. 

" valley of 89. 
RephxLim, 57. 
Reuben, tribe of 109. 
Rezeph, 42. 
Rhodes, 72. 
Rhegium, 77. 
Rhyndacus, 31. 
Riblah, 42. 
Rimmon, 158. 
Rimmon-perez, 57. 
Riphath, 14. 
Rissah, 57. 
Rithmah, 57. 
Rivers of Holy Land 3 97. 
Rome, 76. 
Sabtah, 59. 
Sabteeah. 59. 
Salcah, 112. 
Salem, 
Salim, 136. 
Salmon, 83. 
Salmone, 73. 
Salt sea, 95. 
Salt, valley of, 90, 96. 
Samaria, 132, 134. 
Samos, 71. 
Samp same, 31. 
Sangarius, 31. 
Sardis, 32. 



Scio, 71. 

Scythians, 16. 

Scythopolis, 17, 120, 133. 

Sea of the Plain, 95. 

Seba, 59, 69. 

Seir, mount, 85. 

Seirath, 139. 

Sela, 53. 

Seleucia, 41. 

Sephar, 60. 

Sepharvaim, 28. 

Shamir, 138. 

Sharon, 88. 

Sheba, 49, 59, 60. 

Shechem, 83, 134. 

Sheleph, 60. 

Shenir, 38. 

Shepher, 57. 

Sheshac, 

Sheshach, 21. 

Sheshai, 103. 

Shihor, 62, 64. 

Shiloh, 136. 

Shinar, 20. 

Shittim, 91, 123. 

Shocoh, 162. 

Shuhites, 49. 

Shunem, 131. 

Shur, desert of 62. 

Shushan, 19. 

Sibmah, 97, 124. 

Sibraim, 44. 

Sichem, 134. 

Siddim, vale of, 96. 

Sidon, 168. 

Sidonites, 104. 

Sihor, 62. 

Siloah, 153. 

Sin, 64. 

" desert of 57. 
Sinai, 55. 

" desert of 57. 
Sinope, 31. 
Sion, 38, 149. 
Siphara, 28. 
Sirion, 38. 
Smyrna, 33. 
Solomon, mount of 84. 
Spain, 77. 
Springs of Palestine, 100. 



GEOGRAPHICAL INDEX. 



Springs, warm, 102. 
Succoth, 56, 122. 

" vale of, 91. 
Sukkiims, 69. 
Susiana, 18. 
Sychar, 135. 
Syene, 62, 67. 
Syria, 37. 
Syria-maacah, 40. 
Syro-phenicia, 165. 
Syracuse, 77. 

Taanach, 132. 
Taberah, 57. 
Tabor, 81. 
Tadmor, 43. 
Tahaphanes, 65. 
Tahaphnehes, 65. 
Tahath, 57. 
Tahpanhes, 65. 
Talmai, 103. 
Tamyras, 166. 
Tanis, 65. 
Tar ah, 57. 
Tarichaea, 95. 
Tarshish, 77. 
Tarsus, 35. 
Tartessus, 77. 
Taurus, mount, 29. 
Tekoa, wilderness of, 93. 
Tekoah, 156. 
Tei-abib, 28. 
Tema, 49. 
Teman, 53. 
Thamar, 43. 
Tharshish, ? 
Thebais, 66. 
Thebes, 66. 
Thebez, 136. 
Thelasar, 29. 
Themiscyra, 30. 
Thessalonica, 74. 
Three-taverns, 77. 
Thyatira, 32. 
Tiberias, lake of 94. 
Tiberias, 95, 129. 
Tigris, 9, 24. 
Thrmah, 161. 
Timnath, 161. 
Timnath-heres, 138. 



Timnath-serah, 138. 

Tiphsah, 42. 

Tirzah, 138. 

Tmolus, 32. 

Togarmah, 15. 

Tophet, 90. 

Trachonitis, 119. 

Trapezus, 30. 

Tribes, where settled, 108. 

Tripoli, 167. 

Trogyllium, 33. 

Troas, 31. 

Troy, 31. 

Tubal, 14. 

Tyre, 169. 

Tyrus, 169. 

Ur of the Chaldees, 28. 
Uz, 47. 
Uzal, 60. 

Valleys of the Holy Land, 88, 

West, countries so called, 71 

Zaanan, 162. 
Zalmonah, 58. 
Zamzummim, 50, 103. 
Zared, 52, 58. 
Zartanah, 136. 
Zebulon, tribe of, 115. 
Zedad, 44. 

Zemaraim, mount, 83. 
Zemarites, 104, 107, 167. 
Zenan, 162. 

Zephathah, valley of 89. 
Zered, 52, 58. 
Zeredah, 136. 
Zeredathah, 136. 
Zezon-tamar, 105. 
Zidon, 168. 
Ziklag, 159. 
Zin, desert of, 58. 
Zion, 149. 
Ziph, 141. 

Ziph, wilderness of, 93. 
Ziphron, 44. 
Zoan, 65. 
Zoar, 141. 
Zobah, 27, 39. 
Zorah, 126, 160. 






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